DoT fines ExpressJet, Continental Airlines and Mesaba Airlines for Rochester incident

USA's Department of Transportation (DoT) reportedly fined ExpressJet, Continental Airlines and Mesaba Airlines USD175,000 for an incident where 47 passengers were held in an ExpressJet aircraft for approximately six hours at Rochester in Aug-2009, following a landing due to thunderstorms on flight 2816 (The Washington Post, 01-Dec-2009). ExpressJet and Continental were fined USD100,000 and Mesaba Airlines was fined USD75,000. During the six hour period, the toilets ceased functioning and refreshments ran out. ExpressJet's "Customer First" agreement with Continental Airlines states it will disembark passengers within three hours, while Mesaba Airlines had informed the aircraft's pilots that passengers would be able to disembark upon arrival at Rochester.