On 4-26-09 at approximately 1800 hours, Allegiant Flight 507 from Las Vegas to Fresno carrying 200 passengers was in trouble. In midflight approximately 30 minutes into the flight an engine failed shaking the plane violently waking people as they were sleeping or just trying to enjoy the flight. Flight attendants scrambled putting away the rolling drink cart that is pushed in the isle and passengers onboard looking to the attendents for answers. We (the passengers) noticed a change in our fight path. A few minutes later the captain of the plane announced on the public announcement system that we have a situation. "Everyone needs to be calm we have an engine that has failed and we are heading back to Las Vegas." As we where heading back I noticed the pitch of the plane in an unusual position. Passengers and stewardesess on the plane where crying. The return to Vegas seemed an eternity. People where trying to be calm. The captain did a great job once we landed and people were clappling in joy. Emergency vehicles (firetrucks, police and ambulances) where waiting for us on the tarmack just in case something were to happen.
While disembarking the plane everyone thanked the crew for the fine job they did. A representative from the airline announced that there was another plane available and that we would be boarding that plane and will be going home that same day.
Once back at the terminal is when the confusion started. People were waiting to find out what was going to happen next. About 2 hours later is when passengers where told that the flight was canceled. Representatives were trying to answer questions that passengers had. Questions that where asked could not be answered because there wasn't a supervisor that could answer a lot of the questions. There was a lack of empathy on behalf ot the representives for the passengers.
Hotel accomodations were set up for passengers at a local hotel and were given food vouchers. Passengers tried to use the vouchers that same night but were unable to use them probably because of a lack of communication between the airline the hotel (The Orleans). This made people upset.
On 4-27-09 at approximately 1730 hours, a representative from Allegiant was talking to everyone that was onboard Flight 507. The representive apologized for the inconvenience and was taking names and numbers from passengers. We were told that we would be recieving a call from an Allegiant representative on 4-28-09.
My wife was really recluctant to fly back to Fresno. I had to convince her that it was going to be ok and that we where going to be fine.
My said to me that she no longer wanted to fly.
We arrived back to Fresno on 4-27-09 safely with 3/4 of the original passengers from Flight 507.
There seemed to be a bond between the passengers. I guess when a situation like the one we endured had ever lasting effects. We will probably never see any of the other passenbers again but if we ever see each other again it will be something we can talk about that no one else has experienced.
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