FAA investigating two incidents involving Allegiant planes at VPS

VALPARAISO — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a pair of incidents involving airplanes at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) last week and Monday morning.

The FAA told the Daily News on Monday that it was investigating an incident that occurred July 5 at 1:35 p.m. involving Allegiant Air 1991, which originated from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. According to the FAA, the Airbus A320 aircraft landed on Runway 19, rolled off the side of the runway then back onto the runway.  The aircraft then taxied to the gate and passengers exited the aircraft normally.

In a separate incident that occurred Monday morning at 1 a.m., Allegiant Air 1913, an Airbus A320 arriving from Springfield, Missouri, was pulling into a gate at VPS when it "made contact" with Allegiant Air 1927, also an Airbus A320, which was parked at a nearby gate.

No one was on board Allegiant 1927 when the event occurred, the FAA said. An FAA spokesman was unsure of the number of people on board Allegiant 1913.

Preliminary information indicates a wingtip on Allegiant 1913 and the elevator and tail on Allegiant 1927 were damaged. 

Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracey Stage said he had no knowledge of the July 5 incident. As for the Monday morning incident, he said the aircraft was taxiing to the gate when the pilot passed the gate position, did a 180-degree turn and clipped the other aircraft with its wing.

A spokesperson for Allegiant Air told the Daily News that both incidents are currently under investigation. The spokesperson also said that the pilots involved in the incidents have been removed from active duty pending the investigations.