Passengers say Allegiant flight from Memphis to Jacksonville delayed 7 hours

People took to social media on Monday afternoon to voice their displeasure about an Allegiant flight from Memphis to Jacksonville that was delayed more than seven hours.

Allegiant Flight 656 was originally slated to leave Memphis International Airport for Jacksonville International Airport at 9:50 a.m. and rescheduled several times. Once the passengers got on the plane just before 4 p.m., they were sitting on the tarmac because the engine wouldn't start, according to passengers and relatives of passengers.

@Allegiant HEY! So my mom is stuck on one of your planes in Memphis because the engine won't start...what the heck is that about???
— Pilot Jones ✈️ (@NikkiFromDuval) April 25, 2016

@ActionNewsJax proof as to how many times her flight was delayed... pic.twitter.com/T4O9m9evWg
— Pilot Jones ✈️ (@NikkiFromDuval) April 25, 2016

@Allegiant After a 7 hour delay in Memphis now we are on a plane with engines that won't start? Why would I ever fly Allegiant again?
— Chris Decent (@adecentvictory) April 25, 2016

@Allegiant How do I get a refund or reschedule Flight 781 from Memphis to Orlando, FL (SFB)? Cancelled without reason; phone = perma hold
— JC III (@johnjc3) April 25, 2016

The flight then left Memphis at 5:09 p.m., according to FlightAware, and was slated to arrive at the gate in Jacksonville at 7:30 p.m. The plane landed safely in Jacksonville just before 7:30 p.m.

THANK GOD! My mom's plane landed safely in Jax!
— Pilot Jones ✈️ (@NikkiFromDuval) April 25, 2016

Allegiant sent Action News Jax the following statement about the delay:

Flight 656 with service from Memphis International Airport (MEM) to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) was delayed because the inbound aircraft was late arriving.
The aircraft pushed back from the gate in MEM at 3:44 p.m. At 4:17 p.m., the aircraft returned to the gate because of a mechanical issue. At the gate, the issue was resolved and the flight departed MEM 4:56 p.m.
The flight arrived safely in JAX at 7:37 p.m. local time. The total delay for passengers was 6 hours and 59 minutes. Passengers were offered the option to change their flight to another one in the Allegiant network at no cost, meal vouchers in Memphis and $100 dollars off vouchers for future travel on Allegiant.
There were 128 passengers and six crew members on board.

Allegiant said the initial flight was coming from the Orlando Sanford International Airport.

Allegiant Flight 657, which was scheduled to leave Jacksonville for Memphis on Monday afternoon, was canceled and was rescheduled for Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. That flight will now be operating as Flight 5657 and is set to arrive in Memphis at 10:36 a.m.

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