Allegiant pilot has seizure on plane bound for Punta Gorda

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An Allegiant Airline flight was forced to make an emergency landing Thursday morning in Gainsville after the pilot suffered from a seizure.

Allegiant flight #1304 departed from Cincinnati and was scheduled to land in Punta Gorda at 9:09 a.m.

Flight attendants announced the emergency landing over the intercom, but passengers like Stephen Bortz never imagined it was the pilot in need of medical attention.

“Thankfully they didn’t tell us it was the pilot. Because my imagination would say if they came out and said, ‘The pilot is having a medical emergency,’ the whole plane would’ve ran a muck,” Bortz said.

Passengers could be heard applauding as they walked through baggage claim after landing around 1:50 p.m. at the Punta Gorda Airport.

“I’m just thankful everything transitioned the way it did. They handled it pretty well,” Bortz said.

The pilot was taken to a hospital in Gainesville. His current condition is unclear at this time.

Live arrival and departure information: https://www.flypgd.com/arrivals

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