Virgin America apologizes for LA-to-NY grounding

[March 17, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Virgin America has offered refunds to "Dancing With the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba and other passengers who were stranded for hours on a grounded plane bound for New York from Los Angeles.

Virgin America CEO David Cush sent an apology letter Tuesday to each passenger, promised refunds and provided credit for a future flight.

Flight 404 left Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, but fierce winds forced it to land at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, about 90 miles north of New York.

The airline says people were kept on the ground for 4 1/2 hours -- although they were allowed to leave the plane -- then bused to New York's JFK Airport.

[Associated Press]

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