RAPID CITY, S.D. – An Allegiant Air flight from Rapid City to Mesa, Arizona, was diverted Monday, Aug. 25, after a large-scale dust storm, or haboob, swept across the Phoenix area. The storm caused widespread travel chaos, including grounding flights at airports in the region.
Allegiant Air flight 2285, which departed from Rapid City Regional Airport, was en route to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport when it was forced to change course. According to flight records, the plane was circled over the Arizona desert until it ultimately took refuge in Las Vegas for a couple of hours. After the delay the flight safely made it to it’s destination in Mesa.