B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Total 19000
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown; Fatigue
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Passenger Misconduct; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Diverted; General Police / Security Involved; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Weather; Aircraft
Started boarding at XA:30 for a XB:00 departure from gate in ZZZ bound for ZZZ1. After the completion of boarding and just prior to main cabin door closing; the ramp closed due to thunderstorms and lightning in the area. This ramp closer dragged on for nearly three and a half hours. During which time several PA's were made and a few passengers elected to discontinue their journey to ZZZ1 and deplaned. The flight attendants followed their ground delay procedures as well. The flight finally pushed off the gate at XE:30 but unfortunately after engine start; we received a REVERSER light on the number 1 engine. We coordinated with Ground Control to remain parked on Taxiway A abeam [the] gate. We advised ZZZ Operations that we needed to return to gate; they advised us to contact Maintenance who then in turn advised us to contact [Maintenance Control] who then directed us back to Maintenance. This all seemed convoluted while sitting on an active taxiway. At XE:50 we blocked back into [the] gate; by which time the ramp closed again due to lightning.It was decided to deplane the passengers while waiting for Maintenance. The passengers showed some frustration and a few were grumbling over the ongoing delay. The airplane was fixed; reboarded and blocked out for ZZZ1 a second time at XG:57; six hours past the original scheduled departure time. While enroute; the flight was placed into a holding pattern for thunderstorms. While holding; the Captain coordinated with Dispatch to change our alternate to ZZZ2. After 40 minutes of holding and an ATC extension to our [estimated critical fuel] of an hour; it was decided to divert to ZZZ2 where the plan was to refuel and continue to ZZZ1.By the time we arrived in ZZZ2; a cell was moving closer to the airport with increasing winds and gust. The approach into ZZZ2 was normal but light to moderate turbulence with a 30 kt. crosswind. The Captain and I were informed by a Flight Attendant at the gate that there was a group of passengers in the back of coach starting to get rowdy and a lady was yelling that the landing was horrible and that the pilots must have been drunk. However; prior to the gate arrival; we had to wait an additional 10-15 minutes to park due to ground equipment inside the safety area of the gate and our ground personnel was unable to move. Touchdown in ZZZ2 was XK:10 and block in time was XK:54.At this point a few more passengers elected to discontinue the flight to ZZZ1 and deplaned. We did refuel and was ready to depart once again for ZZZ1. The flight attendants did inform us that the passengers were beginning to reach their boiling points and showing frustration with all the delays beyond the weather and storms. These passengers were starting to get disruptive; but to my knowledge; still compliant. We blocked out again at XL:34 and given an EDCT (Expect Departure Clearance Time) for ZZZ1 of XM:05. We reached a holding area near the runway; still not receiving a closeout from Company; a call was made to Operations who informed us that they were 'working on it'. Several more call were made to Operations as we approached our EDCT. Still no closeout and since we missed our XM:05 EDCT; a new EDCT was given of XM:17. Several PA's were made to keep passengers informed. The flight attendants informed us the passengers were getting more frustrated and more vocal over this ongoing delay.Several more calls to Operations were made and they informed us that because this was a diversion flight; they were having trouble reopening the flight to enter the closeout data. I guess I don't understand this statement; were we the first diversion ZZZ2 has ever seen and were we the first diversion that needed a new closeout in ZZZ2? If not; they sure acted like it was. Needless to say; we now missed our XM:17 EDCT and given a new EDCT of XM:55. A PA was made to keep passengers informed but the passengers had had it. They reached their boiling points; becoming disruptive; very vocal; and wanted off the airplane. We decided to coordinate with Dispatch a return to gate due to the escalating situation in coach. Prior to the gate return; we did finally receive our closeout but it was too late. The flight attendants informed us the situation was starting to get out of hand and we needed to get on a gate. While taxing back to the gate; I thought I overheard a Flight Attendants call another Flight Attendant on the intercom to inform her she overheard a passenger tell another passenger that they were going to 'kick her ass'; referring to one of the Flight Attendants. Since this was now approaching a level 1 threat; we asked for several Supervisors at the gate as well as a police presence. We blocked back in at gate at XN:05; a full 11 hours after this nightmare began; and deplaned. A Flight Attended informed us that a passenger flipped her off while deplaning.
B737 First Officer reported due maintenance issues and weather causing them to divert the flight was delayed from its planned destination 11 hours at which point passengers became disruptive and demanded to be let off the aircraft at the diversion airport.