Aviation expert: Allegiant ‘accident waiting to happen

TAMPA (FOX 13) – Aviation experts are speaking out over repeated Allegiant Air safety concerns, Pinellas County’s largest air carrier.

Dozens of Allegiant Air flights have been involved in emergency landings or diversions in recent months, brining accusations the airline is struggling to manage maintenance of its aircraft.

Jim Brauchle, a former Air Force pilot and noted aviation attorney, says the kinds of problems Allegiant Air has faced are dangerous.

More than 25 incidents have been reported by several media outlets across the country since the beginning of 2015. The majority of them occurred at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport.

The latest emergency happened on Thursday night. A plane heading toward Kansas City lost engine power and returned to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport.

The latest emergency happened on Thursday night. A plane heading toward Kansas City lost engine power and returned to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport.

One of the most severe incident, experts say, was when pilots ran out of fuel and had to stop at a closed airport in North Dakota in July. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a written warning to the airline for that incident.

A month earlier, a plane was involved in an emergency that pilots say could have been disastrous. The FAA says improper maintenance on a part by Allegiant’s contractor led to the plane lifting from the ground prematurely. Allegiant’s contractor was also sanctioned with a warning letter.

Brauchle said the FAA needs to take more serious action.

Source:Fox35

Hmmm..this is serious…