From Ron Kuhlman, with the Centre: “These precedent-setting enforcement actions involve consent orders that reflected a settlement by the carriers of violations alleged by DOT's Aviation Enforcement Office. 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" - US DOT declaration in fining all parties involved in the 08-Aug-2009 stranding of passengers on an Express Jet flight in Rochester, MN.