LAX to JFK is normally not a big deal, but for anyone on board Virgin America Flight 404 last Saturday it became a voyage into the Twilight Zone. Submitted for your approval: Flight leaves L.A. at 7:10 am. for a 3:30 p.m. landing (NY time) but because of the terrible weather back east it circles JFK over and over again before finally being allowed to land in Newburgh, N.Y. (90 miles north) at 5:15. There, the plane and its passengers are stuck on the tarmac for either four-and-a-half hours, if you believe the airline or seven hours, if you believe the passengers. From the Business Insider:

Once on the ground, according to marthastewardess.com, the passengers say they weren't allowed to leave the plane until midnight. Virgin says they were only kept an extra four 1/2 hours. Only four 1/2 additional hours in a parked plane with a perfectly functioning exit door, barred only by fuming stewardesses who rationed four Pringle chips per person while serenading anyone who tried to ask for more with constructive criticism of the, "You are really getting on my freaking nerves! You need to shut the hell up!' " variety.

Finally, staffers are sent over from JetBlue, which has facilities at the airport. "Ladies and gentleman, we're here to get you off the plane," a JetBlue employee says to cheers, according to the NY Post.

*The Department of Transportation is looking into what happened.