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Stockton's lone air carrier Allegiant Air under fire after 60 Minutes report

Last night, CBS 60 Minutes aired a report that found more than 100 serious incidents involving mechanical issues on Allegiant Air flights from January 1, 2016, to the end of October 2017.

Tommy Phipps of Tracy was on his way to a national softball tournament in Las Vegas Monday with his team called the "Animals."

He was ticketed on a 5:15 p.m. flight on Allegiant Air out of Stockton Metropolitan Airport to get there.

"I fly out of Stockton all the time to go into Vegas to play ball and never had any problems," said Phipps.

Last night, CBS 60 Minutes aired a report that found more than 100 serious incidents involving mechanical issues on Allegiant Air flights occurred from January 1, 2016, to the end of October 2017.

In a letter sent to its customers, Allegiant Air Vice President of Operations Captain Eric Gust called the 60 Minutes report "irresponsible, grossly misleading."

Gust went on to say, "Allegiant complies with all FAA requirements and participates in numerous voluntary safety programs to ensure we operate at the highest possible standard."

Ron Lopez was also boarding the flight from Stockton to Las Vegas Monday.

It was his first time flying Allegiant.

"I have had other people who have talked about this airline from the Modesto area and they have taken the flight and have had no problems," said Lopez.

Allegiant began flying out of Stockton in 2006. It operates 15 flights out of Stockton each week.

Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Wilhoit says he is not aware of any major mechanical issues involving any Allegiant flights out of Stockton. He says he has flown many times on Allegiant.

He said he would give the airline an "A-" for a grade.

Wilhoit, who is a former San Joaquin County supervisor, remembers in the 1970's when Stockton had four or five airlines.

He says they remained until airline deregulation which gave airlines the chance to leave and they did.

"Deregulation back in the late 70's really was a death knell to our airport. We were flying 280,000 out of that airport in the late 70's," said Wilhoit.

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