Allegiant Flight to Clearwater Makes Emergency Landing

Allegiant Air's Flight 833 from Knoxville to the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport made an emergency landing Monday after an engine failed, according to media reports.

WBIR.com reported that airline officials said that "the pilot declared an Alert 2 emergency around 3:22 p.m.  An Alert 2 means an aircraft is experiencing a possible major problem, and emergency crews are on standby at the airport to offer assistance."

Passenger Martha McKeon, who was on Flight 833, told TV station WATE.com: "The pilots came on and said the engine had failed."

The plane made a safe landing back at the Knoxville airport, after pilots had to turn off the right engine and reverse course.

A woman named Kate, who described herself as a passenger on Flight 833, commented on the WATE.com story online.

"The pilot's announcement was that they had to 'shut down' the right engine and for our safety, would return to Knoxville. Those of us by the right wing had heard the noise and noticed already that the plane had reversed course and begun losing altitude."

Passengers were given free meals when they made it safely back to the airport. They were put on a later flight to the Florida airport.

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