Hundreds of travelers were stranded at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday morning after Volaris Airlines flights were delayed due to what airlines employees called computer issues.
A call center operator for Mexico-based Volaris said 499 passengers bound for Guadalajara, Mexico, on at least three flights were stuck at LAX's Terminal 2 overnight. A Volaris manager at the ticket counter said "computer problems" in Mexico are not allowing passengers to be checked in for their flights.
Frustrated passengers said they had been waiting in the cold for hours.
"There's just been a total lack of communication where no one from the airline would come out and tell people," said Armando Hernandez, who was dropping off his parents but ended up waiting with them. "All we wanted was to be told the flights were going to be canceled."
Some were traveling for deaths in the family or to visit for Mother’s Day, which is celebrated on May 10 in Mexico.
"Six, seven hours by now and nothing," said passenger Gabriela Serrano, who had planned to see family after the death of her uncle. "We’re still standing here. Look, my children are asleep on the floor."
By midmorning, some passengers rebooked their flights and Volaris employees said the system was working again, allowing for passenger check-in. But many passengers said the damage was done and they turned to other airlines to get them to Mexico.
The airline has not responded to requests seeking comment.
