LAS VEGAS — The low-cost carrier Allegiant Air is under fire following a "60 Minutes" investigation that is raising significant safety concerns.
Investigators with the news program found that between Jan. 1, 2016 and October 2017, the Las Vegas airline experienced more than 100 serious mechanical incidents, including aborted takeoffs, rapid descents, flight control malfunctions and midair engine failures.
More than a year's worth of Federal Aviation Administration reports for Allegiant and seven other airlines show that the carrier was on average nearly three and a half times more likely to have a midair breakdown than Delta, United, American, Spirit, or JetBlue.
Allegiant Airline offers weekly flights from Concord to Orlando and Tampa.
Some passengers at Concord Regional Airport heard of the “60 Minutes” report.
Wanda Edinger still flew after her son-in-law told her about it because it is more affordable and convenient.
"No, because the airport is really close to my daughter and I'll do anything to go see the grandbaby," Edinger said.
[Allegiant Air announces new flights out of Concord]
In a statement, Allegiant takes issue with the 60 Minutes report.
"It is unfortunate and disappointing that CBS 60 Minutes has chosen to air a false narrative about Allegiant and the FAA. This unoriginal and outdated story bears no resemblance to Allegiant’s operations today, and shows a fundamental misunderstanding of FAA compliance practice and history. It focused primarily on events of several years past, prior to the FAA’s most recent comprehensive audit of Allegiant Air, which revealed no systemic or regulatory deficiencies.'
Shares of parent company Allegiant Travel Co. are plunging 13 percent before the opening bell.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)
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