We have all heard the travel horror stories of planes being stranded on the tarmac for hours and hours. You can imagine just how terrible it would be to get stuck in such a situation, cramped into an airplane on the runway with no way out.

Today the government has taken action in attempt to prevent these situations from happening anymore. The Obama administration had imposed a three hour limit for airplane tarmac delays.

Under the new regulations, airlines operating domestic flights will be able only to keep passengers on board for three hours before they must be allowed to disembark a delayed flight. The regulation provides exceptions only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.

In addition to the disembarking regulations, airlines must also provide food and water to any passengers stranded for two hours or longer, and working lavatories must also be available.

The regulations will go into effect in 120 days.

Read the full AP article here.