Originally Posted by
Shack37
I think this was the whole point of my post. I'm glad it finally got through.
But in my experience, this is probably an academic question. In this sort of diversion, my experience is that passengers and baggage are usually both kept on board. It may be that the diversion airport doesn't have enough handling facilities to unload all the diverted aircraft, doesn't have enough baggage belts to deliver luggage, doesn't have enough check-in facilities to accept check-in of those who wish to reboard their aircraft to continue to the original destination, etc. And that's before the occasions when the diversion airport doesn't even have immigration or customs facilities available.
On one occasion, an exception was made for three members of a family who were allowed off the aircraft so long as the fourth member of the family stayed on board with the baggage.