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Stranded passengers take R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” to heart

"To avoid a mutiny," the passengers of Allegiant flight 592 banded together in song. 

 

Chase Hoffberger

Internet Culture

Posted on Jun 12, 2013   Updated on Jun 1, 2021, 1:40 pm CDT

Five hours without AC will cause some folks to do some disturbing things. That’s something redditor Waffletax witnessed firsthand when, on a Sunday flight from Las Vegas to Phoenix that had been delayed five hours, members of Allegiant flight 592 broke out into a rousing chorus of R. Kelly’s wonderfully timeless “I Believe I Can Fly.”

Passengers on the flight were afforded no food, water, or air-conditioning for the duration of the delay. Two people passed out, according to Waffletax, and another two vomited. 

“To avoid a mutiny,” he wrote,” the passengers banded together in song. 

The 1:30 video finding passengers and hungover partiers on Allegiant flight 592 singing “I Believe I Can Fly” in a rousing manner that will remind many of that scene in Almost Famous when all the main characters sing “Tiny Dancer” on a tour bus.

Since posting onto YouTube, the video has received more than 790,000 views. And in case you were wondering, the flight got delayed because a passenger got sick on the runway. When the passengers were moved to another jet, they got delayed again after learning that the plane had a mechanical issue. Since it had already pulled away from the gate, however, and hadn’t yet ascended into the air, the air conditioning could not be activated—and the water could not run.

 Allegiant granted all the passengers on the flight a $100 credit for future travel, offering in a statement that “We take these matters very seriously.

“Allegiant’s top priority is the safety of our passengers and crew members, and we will always take a delay to ensure the safety of all involved.”

Photo via R. Kelly/Facebook

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*First Published: Jun 12, 2013, 9:45 am CDT