Frustrated passengers criticised a 30-hour delay in their flight after a diversion to Bermuda for a medical emergency which was then compounded by customs problems.

The Delta aircraft, flight number DL 1780, from San Juan in Puerto Rico, was destined for Boston, but changed course on Monday evening after reports of a 52-year-old male passenger suffering breathing difficulties caused by asthma.

It landed safely but passengers remained on the island after the flight crew had exceeded their working hours.

Delta supplied them with hotel and meal vouchers, however passengers were then held up on the tarmac at Logan Airport in Boston sparking more frustration for the travellers.

Several were interviewed by Boston television channel WCVBat Logan Airport.

One woman, Damris Montanez, from Springfield, said the passengers only arrived at a hotel in Bermuda between 3am and 3.30am and added: “But then we had to be up for a shuttle bus at 6.30am.”

They face more delays at the island’s airport and finally set off at about 1pm on Tuesday.

However, the plane then spent a further three hours on the tarmac at Boston on arrival and another woman, Luz Rodriguez, of Lowell, said: “It was a hot mess,

“People were hungry, babies were crying, there were no diapers and we had elderly people who needed medical attention.

“Tempers were high and there was not a lot of communication.”

More hassles followed for the passengers when they finally disembarked from the aircraft because it was a domestic flight and many of them had no passports which prompted hold-ups at customs.

Ms Montanez added that customs had plenty of time with the delays to have everything set up for an easy process but failed to do so.

The TV report, broadcast on YouTube told how the passengers sympathised with the man’s medical issues, although they insisted the situation could have been handled better.

The plane, a three-year-old Airbus, officially took off from Bermuda at 12.57pm on Tuesday.

A statement from Delta read: “Delta Flight 1780 from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boston diverted to Bermuda following an on-board medical emergency.

“The safety of our customers and crew comes before all else and we thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”

A company spokesperson said: “The Airbus A321neo aircraft has six crew members and the flight continued to Boston.

“Customers were provided with hotels and meal vouchers while in Bermuda.”

A spokeswoman for Skyport added that the passenger was attended to by a nurse during the flight “and was unresponsive when emergency medical personnel met the aircraft upon arrival”.

She said: “All passengers subsequently departed Bermuda on October 6 when the flight resumed its journey to Boston at approximately 1pm.”

She added: “This marked the 18th flight diversion to Bermuda in 2026.

“Due to Bermuda's location in the North Atlantic, LF Wade International Airport regularly serves as a diversion airport for aircraft operating regional and transatlantic routes.”