Wife of man in ICE custody on plane with broken A/C demands answers

MESA (AZFamily) — Nearly a dozen people were treated for heat-related symptoms after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) transport plane lost air conditioning during a flight on Wednesday.

Candace Bailey says her husband Gerry was one of the 98 people on the ICE transport plane that was forced to turn around midflight and land back at Mesa Gateway Airport following air conditioning problems.

“He said there was no ventilation, the A/C wasn’t working,” said Candace Bailey. “It was just a big mess, and everyone was in a panic, in a panic mode, thinking that was the end of life.”

An ICE spokesperson says several people on the flight were taken to the hospital, and the flight was rescheduled and left a day later on Thursday. However, according to online records, Gerry wasn’t on it and is still in ICE custody in Arizona.

“They’re actually in detainment. Still in detainment, waiting to see what the next move will be,” said Candace.

Candace says Gerry was supposed to be in his home country of Jamaica by now. Gerry came to the U.S. in the mid-1990s looking for a better life. He got in trouble with the law and recently got out of prison before deciding to return to Jamaica. Candace says the uncertainty of how and when he might return home frustrates the whole family.

“Basically just praying and staying hopeful that he will get there safe,” said Candace.

ICE says one woman and eight men were treated for the heat-related symptoms and all were released back into ICE custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement released the following statement about the incident:

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