SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — For the fourth time in a little more than a week, an Allegiant Airlines flight had to be diverted because of mechanical problems.
The flight left Orlando-Sanford International Airport at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday and was on its way to Iowa, when it was forced to land because of engine issues.
Some Allegiant pilots have been complaining about issues with the company’s planes for nearly a year. Letters have been sent to the company’s shareholders, management and passengers, claiming the Allegiant fleet is plagued by persistent mechanical problems caused by poor equipment and the company’s unwillingness to invest money.
Tammy Fobird was on the flight that had to be diverted to Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Thursday. She and her daughter were on board, heading home after a dance event in Florida, when things started going wrong about 30 minutes into the flight.
“We heard a crazy sound underneath us, and it kind of sounded like when your tires come out for landing,” Fobird said. “(But) we were not near anywhere we would be landing.”
Allegiant said the plane had been taken out of service and will be thoroughly inspected to determine the cause of the issue.
Ohio resident Matt Emch was on an Allegiant flight Christmas Eve that was forced to circle back to Jacksonville.
He had blunt words for the company, pointing to the four flights that had been diverted since Dec. 23.
“I think they need to start worrying about the conditions of their planes more than how many flights they can get people back and forth to Florida (on).”