United Airlines passenger Heather Fields said her Edinburgh-to-Denver journey became a near-20-hour ordeal after storms diverted her Chicago-bound flight to Green Bay, Wisconsin. She alleged that passengers spent hours confined on the aircraft, then waited outside near the runway without customs processing, highlighting the disruption and welfare concerns that can arise when diversions overwhelm airport and airline arrangements.

Fields said the flight landed at about 2pm on 27 July and passengers remained on board for roughly four hours, with toilets, food and information in short supply. After the crew reached its duty-time limit, she said travellers waited outside for about five more hours before eventually clearing customs; she later missed onward travel in Chicago when TSA had closed. Severe weather in the Chicago area included seven reported tornadoes and wind gusts up to 105mph, while United reportedly refunded some fees and offered Fields a $200 travel credit.