(CNN) Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Hong Kong were left stuck on the ground for more than 14 hours in frigid weather with a dwindling supply of food.

due to a medical emergency. The plane The nightmarish incident began when the 3:05 p.m. flight was diverted to Goose Bay Airport in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labradordue to a medical emergency. The plane landed there at 9:31 p.m. AST , and medical personnel met the aircraft and a passenger was taken to a hospital.

But as the flight was set to take off again, it experienced a mechanical issue.

That's when the waiting began.

Passengers were not allowed to leave the airplane because the airport did not have a customs officer on duty during the overnight hours. Saturday bled into Sunday, and the flight remained grounded.

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