Stewart Airport-Bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing

If you hate flying, then you might not want to read any further.

A flight bound for Newburgh's Stewart Airport was forced to make an emergency shortly after takeoff Thursday morning.

Allegiant Air Flight 844 had taken off at about 7:30 a.m. from St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport, when passengers say the pilot informed them over the PA that the plane was experiencing a hydraulic issue. Thing is, they were also informed that they'd have to burn off enough fuel before they could land.

This would be a painstaking an harrowing process.

The Times Herald reports that passengers said that the flight circled over land and water for ninety minutes in order to drop the fuel to acceptable levels.

When the plane finally approached St. Petersburg-Clearwater, passengers say that they could see fire trucks on the ground waiting for the plane to land.

Flight 844 finally landed around 9 a.m.

Approximately an hour and a half later, the 165 passengers were put on a different plane bound for Stewart International Airport. They safely arrived at Stewart at about 1:15 p.m.

An Allegiant spokesperson said in a statement that the safety of their passengers and crew is their highest priority, and that their mechanics are conducting a thorough investigation of the aircraft.