Four passengers reportedly lost consciousness aboard a sweltering GlobalX charter plane that is regularly used for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation flights. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon as the aircraft was preparing to depart from Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport for Alexandria, Louisiana, after experiencing an air conditioning malfunction.
Emergency Response
Paramedics and firefighters arrived on the tarmac around 3:15 p.m. and rushed to assist the affected passengers, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. First responders wheeled the individuals off the plane on stretchers and loaded them into ambulances, as captured by CBS News Miami footage. The passengers were transported to nearby hospitals and treated for heat-related illnesses.
Additional Details
Aviation workers were seen carrying black trash bags off the aircraft, though the contents remain unclear. The remaining passengers were transferred to another plane and eventually reached Alexandria after a delay of more than five hours.
The Miami-Dade Aviation Department confirmed that the flight originated in Texas and was bound for Louisiana. The crew diverted to Miami-Opa Locka to replace the aircraft. It is uncertain whether GlobalX plane was being used by ICE during this particular flight, but it is probable given its destination: Alexandria International Airport, which houses a 70,000 square-foot federal staging facility with 400 beds. This facility is the busiest ICE deportation hub in the country, used for removing migrants from the US and sending them back to their home countries.
The Daily Mail has approached ICE for comment.
