An Allegiant Air flight moving to a runway at St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport on Sunday made a bad turn and wound up stuck in mud, canceling passengers' plans for at least 24 hours.
"The pilot was turning right, getting ready to take off and he went off the [taxiway] and one of the wheels got stuck in the mud," passenger Sara James, of Clearwater, said.
According to airport spokesperson Michele Routh, Flight 882 was preparing to takeoff for a 3:15 p.m. flight to Grand Rapids, Mich. when the plane was steered into the grass. Allegiant Air spokesperson Jessica Wheeler confirmed the plane "slipped off the taxiway."
As the passengers sat on the plane and waited to find out what was happening, James said they were told to sit down, because "the gear was sinking farther" into the mud. "The pilot got on and profusely apologized," James said. "He was choked up, very apologetic, and said they had to get buses."
Routh said all 142 passengers had to get off the plane and PSTA responded to transport them all back to the terminal.
"It was tough for the older passengers," James said. "The ramp to get off the plane was wobbly onto the tarmac."
James said the passengers were informed the flight would not be able to continue Sunday and would be rescheduled for Monday. "People are livid," James said. Wheeler confirmed engineers had to inspect the plane for any possible damage before it was deemed safe for flight again. As a result Allegiant was sending another plane and flight crew for the rescheduled trip to Grand Rapids at 3:15 p.m. Monday.
Wheeler added that those passengers who do not live within 50 miles of the airport were given rooms at a hotel near the airport. All passengers were given the options of rescheduling their flight, accepting a complete refund or taking the Monday flight that would include a $75 voucher.
No injuries were reported.