Delta flights in Boston were severely delayed due to 'improper de-icing' of planes with passengers waiting over 4 hours

• Delta flights were severely delayed at Boston Logan International Airport on Sunday night. 
• Planes were delayed due to "improper de-icing," and staff shortages, passengers said. 
• Some were left on a plane that had landed for 90 minutes, with no working bathroom. 

Delta flights at Boston Logan International Airport were hit by severe delays due to "improper de-icing," of planes leaving passengers waiting over four hours on Sunday night. 

Michael Vilches, 32, told Insider that his flight was scheduled to depart Boston at 7 p.m. EST on Sunday but the plane "never took off," and it was "stuck on the tarmac for three hours." 

Vilches said passengers were moved from gate to gate as staff "attempted to de-ice the plane," before eventually being deplaned.

"After being told we'd be leaving shortly multiple times, the captain finally announced due to regulations the plane can't sit for three hours without taking off so we unboarded the plane," Vilches said adding that they were told that they would definitely be reloading and taking off in "an hour or two hours tops." 

But two hours later, Vilches said that Delta canceled the flight, "due to improper de-icing of the plane and the pilot was tired."

Brandon Truitt, a local reporter at WBZ-TV shared a graphic on Twitter showing rows of incoming and outgoing Delta flights "waiting for gates." 

—Brandon Truitt (@BrandonTruittTV) December 12, 2022

One Twitter user blamed the delay on staff shortages saying Delta "needs to shell out the money to hire more grounds crew," as planes waited their turn to be de-iced at Logan airport. She added that flights were being canceled "because pilots are timing out." 

—Tweet (@soulphenomenal) December 12, 2022

Another passenger complained on Twitter that they were stuck on a plane for 90 minutes after landing, with no working bathroom. 

—Deborah Ford (@dwfzipit) December 12, 2022

Boston 25 reporter, Julianne Lima shared a video on Twitter of people sleeping on cots at the airport after delayed flights. 

—Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) December 12, 2022

Vilches said he would catch the next flight departing to Tampa at 6:05 a.m. on Monday morning, but hotel vouchers or accommodation weren't offered. Instead, people were sleeping in the airport overnight, with no pillows or blankets given by staff. 

"It's a shit show here," he said. "People all inside laying around not knowing what to do." 

Vilches emphasized that the "biggest issue is the miscommunication," as all details were relayed to him verbally and inconsistently. He said he hadn't been contacted by Delta yet about refunds or compensation. 

Boston Logan International Airport and Delta Air Lines did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.