[rabscuttle385]

Nicholas told the newspaper that passengers couldn't be let off of the plane and into the terminal due to federal regulations. Security screeners at the Rochester airport had gone home for the night.

I smell a rat.

The flight in question was a domestic one. Why would security personnel be needed at the destination airport?

I have never been on a domestic airline flight that required security screening at the destination. Every single flight...we were allowed to claim our checked luggage (if any) and head on out.

[KarlInOhio]

But you wouldn't be allowed back to the gates without screening without being screened again. If there was absolutely no one available, then there might be a problem. However even one bored security guard, which I can't believe the airport would be without just to keep someone from hiding until after closing time and then sneaking in a weapon, would be enough to keep you from returning to the gates.

[MindBender26]

Exactly. They are already screened. No need to rescreen.

Happened to me once. 2:00 AM in Oklahoma City. The secure area cops were gone, so they simply took us down a roll-up stairs, onto buses and 2 minutes to the baggage claim area, out of the sterile area.

[PapaBear3625]

The flight in question was a domestic one. Why would security personnel be needed at the destination airport?

To get off, they would not. But once off, they would not be allowed to get back on until the screeners came back on duty in the morning. Somebody might have thought that the problem could be fixed before the screeners were back, and didn't want to take responsibility for making the plane be grounded until then.

[tcrlaf]

TSA controls access to gate areas now. If the gate area is considered “Secured and sterile”, you have to get permission from your local Head TSA wonk to enter it, as making it sterile again involves a pretty long checklist.

Sounds like somebody at Expressjet Ops dropped the ball, BIG-time!

[stormer]

“I have never been on a domestic airline flight that required security screening at the destination.”

I have - in China. I think it was for SARS.