NH National Guard says it's renting a fire truck from Rhode Island so flights can resume at Portsmouth airport
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease had to shut down to all large planes Thursday because it had no working fire trucks and the New Hampshire National Guard was working on a solution.Paula Simpson and her husband spent the last three weeks at their Florida home.“There were so many people inconvenienced, really, on that flight,” Simpson said. They should have returned to their home in Sanford, Maine, Thursday night, but had to leave their seats and deplane after the pilots in Florida told them they wouldn’t be leaving.”I thought, ‘This isn’t good because Allegiant doesn’t fly every day,’” Simpson said. They said the flight was full and it was a disorganized experience trying to rebook or get a refund.All flights leaving Pease on Friday were canceled and those expected to arrive were diverted as the National Guard worked to find a working fire truck they could use in the interim.“FAA rules require at least one of these fire suppression trucks, known as crash trucks, to be available for heavy aircraft to land or take off,” said Lt. Col. Greg Heilshorn, with the New Hampshire National Guard. The National Guard said they had three, but those have been down since last year. The two loaners they were using had mechanical issues this week, and the last on Thursday afternoon.They have rented a working truck from Rhode Island and are waiting for it to arrive.“There will be little delay in opening at the airport once it’s on-site,” Heilshorn said. The Simpsons said this experience has left them questioning if they should fly with Allegiant again.“I have everything booked, and I don’t really feel comfortable with anything now,” Simpson said.In a statement released Thursday night, Allegiant said they would be offering $250 flight vouchers to affected travelers as a “gesture of goodwill.”News 9 has heard from several travelers they were told they would not be getting that voucher from the airline company. In another statement Friday, Allegiant said if anyone is having trouble with their vouchers, contact the airline by phone, chat, email or through social media channels.Allegiant said they bused flyers to Boston from Pease to Logan airport and those who landed at Logan were bused back here.
Portsmouth International Airport at Pease had to shut down to all large planes Thursday because it had no working fire trucks and the New Hampshire National Guard was working on a solution.
Paula Simpson and her husband spent the last three weeks at their Florida home.
“There were so many people inconvenienced, really, on that flight,” Simpson said.
They should have returned to their home in Sanford, Maine, Thursday night, but had to leave their seats and deplane after the pilots in Florida told them they wouldn’t be leaving.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t good because Allegiant doesn’t fly every day,’” Simpson said.
They said the flight was full and it was a disorganized experience trying to rebook or get a refund.
All flights leaving Pease on Friday were canceled and those expected to arrive were diverted as the National Guard worked to find a working fire truck they could use in the interim.
“FAA rules require at least one of these fire suppression trucks, known as crash trucks, to be available for heavy aircraft to land or take off,” said Lt. Col. Greg Heilshorn, with the New Hampshire National Guard.
The National Guard said they had three, but those have been down since last year. The two loaners they were using had mechanical issues this week, and the last on Thursday afternoon.
They have rented a working truck from Rhode Island and are waiting for it to arrive.
“There will be little delay in opening at the airport once it’s on-site,” Heilshorn said.
The Simpsons said this experience has left them questioning if they should fly with Allegiant again.
“I have everything booked, and I don’t really feel comfortable with anything now,” Simpson said.
In a statement released Thursday night, Allegiant said they would be offering $250 flight vouchers to affected travelers as a “gesture of goodwill.”
News 9 has heard from several travelers they were told they would not be getting that voucher from the airline company.
In another statement Friday, Allegiant said if anyone is having trouble with their vouchers, contact the airline by phone, chat, email or through social media channels.
Allegiant said they bused flyers to Boston from Pease to Logan airport and those who landed at Logan were bused back here.
