Calls for change after passengers trapped on tarmac

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to know whether a weekend airline ordeal violated any laws.

Continental Express Flight 2816 from Houston to Minneapolis had to divert to Rochester, Minnesota because of bad weather.

Passengers weren't allowed off the plane for six hours.

The incident is now bolstering calls for a federal law guaranteeing the rights of airline passengers.

The airline has apologized and offered refunds, but passenger rights advocates want a lot more.

Airlines have already promised to try to limit tarmac delays to three hours, but passenger advocates want a law.

"Treat people like humans, not like cattle, that's really all that passenger rights is seeking," says Ed Mierzwinski of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "Consumers have no rights when they walk onto an airplane. And the Congress has been considering, for years, passenger rights legislation, but the airlines keep striking it down."

Bills are currently making their way through the House and Senate.

For now passengers have to hope the airlines get it right.