PLATTSBURGH — A flight diverted from Plattsburgh to Burlington Wednesday night due to high winds was described by one passenger as a "complete nightmare."

"I thought for sure that we were going to die," John Helmer, a passenger on the jet, said.

The Allegiant Air jet carrying about 140 passengers from Florida was scheduled to land at Plattsburgh International Airport about 5 p.m.

But high, gusting winds of up to 50 mph forced the jet to divert to Burlington International Airport in Vermont.

Helmer, 53, said the pilot attempted to land in Plattsburgh twice before opting for Burlington.

"With winds that strong he never should have even tried to land here," Helmer said.

As the jet approached the runway on the first landing attempt, Helmer said it jerked violently back and forth and dipped dramatically to one side before the pilot pulled up and aborted the landing.

"We were holding on like we were on a roller coaster."

The second attempt was much like the first, Helmer claimed.

Several children vomited during the rough landing attempts, and some passengers became hysterical.

When the plane landed in Burlington, the pilot reportedly told passengers that they were going to refuel, wait for the wind to die down, and then head back to Plattsburgh.

But many passengers wanted no part of that plan.

"We all got up and said we are getting off this plane," Helmer said.

At first, Helmer said, the pilot told passengers they could not leave the aircraft but eventually backed off.

Clinton County officials were preparing to send buses to Burlington to pick up the Allegiant passengers and bring them back to Plattsburgh.

The buses were also to be used to bring passengers waiting in Plattsburgh to Burlington for Allegiant's return flight to Florida.

According to Rodney Brown, the county's deputy administrator, once the county learned that the plane was coming back to Plattsburgh, they did not send the buses to Burlington.

They were not aware that several people had gotten off the plane in Vermont.

Helmer said only 20 passengers stayed on the plane when it returned to Plattsburgh around 8:30 p.m.

He called his sons to come and pick him, his wife and 2-year-old grandchild up in Burlington.

"A lot of people didn't have rides," he said.

"This was not handled right at all. They did not take care of us."


E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com