Allegiant Air Flight Collides with Ground Vehicle, Resulting in Multiple Fatalities
— Metairie, Louisiana
In a tragic turn of events, Allegiant Air Flight 245 from Las Vegas to New Orleans was involved in a devastating collision with a ground service vehicle during its final approach to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Tuesday evening.
Preliminary reports from airport officials and emergency responders confirm that the aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, struck a maintenance truck that had entered an active runway without clearance. The impact caused the plane to lose stability and veer off the landing path, crashing into a service area adjacent to the runway.
Emergency crews were dispatched immediately. Despite their efforts, it has been confirmed that 104 passengers and 6 crew members onboard the aircraft were killed. The two individuals in the ground vehicle also died at the scene. Several other airport staff and bystanders sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with smoke billowing from the site and sirens filling the air moments after the impact. “We saw the plane banking unnaturally low, then there was a loud explosion and fire,” one airport employee recounted.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Early indications suggest a possible miscommunication between air traffic control and the ground vehicle operator.
Allegiant Air issued a statement expressing deep sorrow for the loss of life and pledged full cooperation with authorities. “We are heartbroken by this tragedy and are doing everything in our power to support the families of those affected,” the airline stated.
Counseling services and a hotline have been made available to the victims’ families, and all Allegiant flights in and out of New Orleans have been temporarily suspended as the investigation continues.
This incident marks the most serious aviation disaster in Allegiant Air’s history and has raised renewed concerns about ground safety procedures at U.S. airports.
