DOT imposed what it called "precedent-setting" fines on Continental, ExpressJet and Mesaba for stranding passengers on an idle aircraft.

Continental and ExpressJet (operating a Continental-marketed flight as Continental Express) were punished with "a total civil penalty of $100,000" for the Aug. 8 incident in Rochester, Minn. during which passengers were kept onboard a plane on the tarmac for nearly six hours. Serving as the ground handler for the flight, Mesaba was fined $75,000. "They are the first enforcement orders punishing carriers for extended tarmac delays, as well as the first time a carrier acting as a ground handler for another airline has been punished for failing to properly help passengers leave an aircraft during an unreasonably long tarmac delay," according to a U.S. Department of Transportation statement. "All three carriers violated the law that prohibits unfair and deceptive practices in air transportation for their respective roles in the incident."