Passengers and crew members on an Allegiant aircraft experienced a terrifying moment when the plane narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with another aircraft over Florida. The incident occurred on Sunday during Flight 485, which departed from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport en route to Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky.
The mid-air scare resulted in a flight attendant sustaining injuries when the Allegiant Airbus A320 had to abruptly ascend in order to avoid colliding with a Gulfstream business jet. Both planes were reportedly flying at the same altitude, and the Allegiant aircraft had to take evasive action, turning eastbound at 23,000 feet to avoid crossing paths with the smaller jet. The pilot of the Gulfstream also had to respond quickly after receiving a warning from an air traffic controller at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center.
The circumstances surrounding the near-miss remain unclear, leaving authorities questioning how two aircraft could come so close to each other undetected. Passengers onboard shared their harrowing experience, with Jerrica Thacker, 21, describing the moment the plane suddenly ascended as one of the most terrifying things she had ever encountered. Thacker, who had been on a family cruise in the Caribbean, expressed her relief that the incident ended without any severe injuries.
Following the incident, the injured flight attendant was swiftly attended to by paramedics once the plane returned to Fort Lauderdale. According to Allegiant spokesperson Sonya Padgett, the injured crew member had lost balance during the evasive ascent. Padgett confirmed that there were no other injuries reported among the 175 passengers and six crew members onboard.
After receiving necessary medical attention, the Allegiant plane resumed its journey, taking off from Fort Lauderdale later that evening and safely landing at its destination in Lexington. The airline has not provided any further details regarding the investigation into the incident or any potential action being taken as a result.
The mid-air scare serves as a reminder of the ever-present risks and challenges faced by air travel. While modern aviation technology and strict regulations are designed to ensure safety, incidents like these underscore the importance of continuous vigilance and coordination between pilots, air traffic controllers, and airline operators to maintain the highest levels of safety in the sky.
