Four People Injured After Allegiant Air Flight Encounters Severe Turbulence
On Wednesday, a Florida-bound Allegiant Air flight encountered severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to four individuals onboard. The flight, Allegiant Air Flight 227, had taken off from Asheville, North Carolina and was landing at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport when the turbulence occurred.
The plane, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, landed normally and taxied to the gate under its own power, according to Allegiant Air spokesperson Andrew Porrello. However, two passengers and two flight attendants were taken to a hospital for evaluation after being assessed by airport paramedics. The extent of their injuries was not disclosed, but they were believed to be relatively minor, stated St. Pete-Clearwater airport spokesperson Michele Routh.
One passenger onboard, Lisa Spriggs, described the turbulence as “petrifying.” She witnessed a flight attendant fall to the ground during a small turbulence episode and described a major turbulence incident where the flight attendant was thrown into the air and landed straight down, like a scene from the movie “Matrix.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the crew of the Airbus A320 had reported the turbulence while on approach to the Florida airport at around 3:45 p.m. Both the FAA and Allegiant Air will be investigating the incident, with the FAA leading the investigation. Allegiant Air representative, Andrew Porrello, confirmed that the airline will be coordinating with the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their investigation.
Further details about the incident and the exact cause of the turbulence have not been released by either the FAA or Allegiant Air. However, this incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel and highlights the importance of airline safety protocols and preparedness for unexpected events.