Plane with ICE detainees on tarmac at Portsmouth International Airport for more than 12 hours

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. —

A plane with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees landed at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease around 1 a.m. Monday and sat on the tarmac for more than 12 hours.

WMTW sister station WMUR learned that the plane was not able to make it to the terminal due to weather conditions from a nor'easter.

Sources told WMUR's News 9 Investigates that the ICE detainees were fed while the plane sat on the tarmac, and that they have since been moved to the airport terminal.

The sources also said strong winds prevented the aircraft from being towed from the tarmac, but the plane was ultimately towed around 2:45 p.m.

The plane took off from Harlingen, Texas, on Sunday night and then landed at Pease early Monday morning. Its final destination is not known.

Portsmouth International Airport officials said they were not told the flight was inbound until about 15 minutes before it arrived.

"Had we been informed in advance of their intent to land at PSM during the blizzard, we would have strongly advised against it and encouraged them to divert to another airport not being impacted by this severe winter storm," officials said in a statement. "PSM was notified of the flight's arrival only 15 minutes before it landed this morning at 1:00 a.m."

Airport officials said Port City Air has the responsibility to "properly plan for weather-related contingencies and required facilities and accommodations."

According to Port City Air, decisions about flights into and out of Portsmouth International Airport at Pease "are not made by Port City Air."

"ICE-flight decisions are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It is our legal obligation to safely service any flights into or out of the airport. Our operations remain open throughout this storm," Port City Air officials said in a statement.

Sources told News 9 Investigates that Port City Air, which provides services including the refueling of planes, does not have the authority to refuse an aircraft when the airport is open.