Aircraft diverted to Burlington had rough flight

Local News

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.

comments powered by Disqus

March 12, 2009

By JOE LoTEMPLIO The Press Republican Fri May 14, 2010, 07:13 PM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — A flight diverted from Plattsburgh to Burlington Wednesday night due to high winds was described by one passenger as a "complete nightmare."

"I thought for sure that we were going to die," John Helmer, a passenger on the jet, said.

The Allegiant Air jet carrying about 140 passengers from Florida was scheduled to land at Plattsburgh International Airport about 5 p.m.

But high, gusting winds of up to 50 mph forced the jet to divert to Burlington International Airport in Vermont.

Helmer, 53, said the pilot attempted to land in Plattsburgh twice before opting for Burlington.

"With winds that strong he never should have even tried to land here," Helmer said.

As the jet approached the runway on the first landing attempt, Helmer said it jerked violently back and forth and dipped dramatically to one side before the pilot pulled up and aborted the landing.

"We were holding on like we were on a roller coaster."

The second attempt was much like the first, Helmer claimed.

Several children vomited during the rough landing attempts, and some passengers became hysterical.

When the plane landed in Burlington, the pilot reportedly told passengers that they were going to refuel, wait for the wind to die down, and then head back to Plattsburgh.

But many passengers wanted no part of that plan.

"We all got up and said we are getting off this plane," Helmer said.

At first, Helmer said, the pilot told passengers they could not leave the aircraft but eventually backed off.

Clinton County officials were preparing to send buses to Burlington to pick up the Allegiant passengers and bring them back to Plattsburgh.

The buses were also to be used to bring passengers waiting in Plattsburgh to Burlington for Allegiant's return flight to Florida.

According to Rodney Brown, the county's deputy administrator, once the county learned that the plane was coming back to Plattsburgh, they did not send the buses to Burlington.

They were not aware that several people had gotten off the plane in Vermont.

Helmer said only 20 passengers stayed on the plane when it returned to Plattsburgh around 8:30 p.m.

He called his sons to come and pick him, his wife and 2-year-old grandchild up in Burlington.

"A lot of people didn't have rides," he said.

"This was not handled right at all. They did not take care of us."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com