Allegiant Airplane Barely Escapes Mid-Air Collision!

(Scypre.com) – An Allegiant Air flight experienced a frightening incident when it had to make a sudden ascent of 600 feet to avoid colliding with a private jet flying towards it.

Jerrica Thacker shared her account, revealing that it was only her second time flying as she boarded Allegiant Air Flight 485 from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Lexington, Kentucky on July 23rd. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot warned about possible turbulence due to inclement weather up north.

Around twenty minutes into the flight, the situation escalated dramatically, initially mistaken for severe turbulence by the passengers. However, the truth was much more alarming. The Airbus A320 had to take evasive actions to avoid a collision with a private Gulfstream jet, leading to a heart-stopping moment. The sudden maneuver at 23,000 feet created the sensation of a roller coaster drop for about 10 to 20 seconds, leaving everyone shaken.

Thacker described the fear and panic among the passengers, with her twin sister crying and a lady next to her praying. She clung to the handrails, trying to avoid a panic attack. Two flight attendants even fell to the ground during the abrupt movement.

Eventually, the pilot explained over the intercom that the evasive action was necessary to avoid a nose-on-nose crash with the private jet, and they needed to return to Fort Lauderdale due to an injured flight attendant.

After a nerve-wracking 20-minute journey back, the plane safely landed. The severity of the incident was conveyed to Thacker’s sister’s boyfriend by a flight attendant, who praised the pilot’s quick response, stating that a less experienced pilot might not have been able to avert disaster.

In response to the incident, Allegiant Airlines promised passengers a $200 or $300 voucher, but Thacker expressed that her terrifying experience had put her off flying entirely.

The FAA confirmed the near-disaster, stating that the Airbus A320 had taken evasive action after receiving an alert about the approaching Gulfstream jet, which had also responded to a warning from air traffic control.

In light of the incident, Thacker and her extended family opted to rent a car and make the 14-hour drive back to Kentucky, unwilling to fly again any time soon.