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Contact photographer Shawn Early
What: Allegiant Air MD-80 en route from Bellingham to San Diego
Where: Paine Field Airport
When: Mar 26th 2012
Who: 160 passengers (155/5)
Why: The flight was en route when the plane developed hydraulic systems problems.
Pilots diverted to Snohomish County Airport where they made a safe landing with a total of thirty rescue personnel on scene: Two foam trucks and a rescue truck, seven personnel, three engines, a ladder truck, and two medic units responded.
A replacement jet was provided, which took off from Bellingham. Passengers were transported from Snohomish County Airport back to Bellingham for the replacement flight which proceeded without error.
A little bit of one step forward, one step back action, but apparently the passengers managed to get to San Diego seven hours later.
Southwest Airlines flight WN-2701 had to return and make an emergency landing at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Washington, on May 23rd.
United Airlines flight UA-1219 had to divert and make an emergency landing in San Francisco, California, on January 14th.