Emergency crews respond to plane at FWA

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Passengers of Allegiant flight 959 boarded and have taken off just before 10:45 p.m. Friday to Punta Gorda, Florida after making an emergency landing in Fort Wayne Friday afternoon.

According to an Allegiant official, a fire indicator light for the cargo hold prompted an emergency landing for Allegiant flight 959, out of South Bend bound for Punta Gorda, Florida.

Fort Wayne International Airport posted on their Facebook page that the light " alerted the pilots there may be a fire in the cargo area."

Emergency crews responded to the emergency landing at the Fort Wayne International Airport Friday around 1:25 p.m.

There were 149 passengers and five crew members on on the flight, all of whom were quickly and safely evacuated out of the MD-80 jet aircraft via inflatable door slides. One passenger helped with the evacuation.

"They asked us to help pull down the shoot off the one side, so another [gentleman] and I, we did the same," said Chuck Hamilton, a passenger visiting family in Indiana, but lives in Punta Gorda. "My wife tried to help people."

In the hours after the emergency landing on Friday, Allegiant was interviewing passengers and working on getting food to the evacuated group.

Allegiant told NewsChannel 15 no serious injuries had been reported and a Sheriff's Deputy also said there were no injuries. Allegiant officials also told us there was no report of a fire on the aircraft.

Allegiant was also working on securing a new plane to get passengers on their way to Punta Gorda, Florida.

Allegiant Travel Company issued this statement around 3:45 p.m. Friday:

The company's first priority is to meet the needs of those who have been directly affected by this event. Allegiant's Care Support Team, a team of specially trained employee volunteers, will be available to assist passengers.

Allegiant said passengers and families of flight 959 in need of assistance or additional information may contact Allegiant at 1-888-393-3535.