Watch CBS News

Snowbirds Stranded In Rural NY Town After Being Wheeled On Wrong Flight

OGDENSBURG, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A pair of snowbirds ended up a little farther north than expected after they were accidentally flown to rural New York.

Last week, 96-year-old Helen Wheeker and her 89-year-old husband George Nobel booked a flight on Allegiant Air to Grand Rapids to visit family.

But they were pushed to the wrong gate at Fort Lauderdale's airport, and ended up in Ogdensburg, a small town near the Ontario, Canada border.

"You spend all day traveling and end up going nowhere," Nobel said.

An Allegiant Air spokeswoman blamed a malfunctioning boarding pass scanner for not catching the mix-up.

"If it was New York City, that would have been cool," Wheeker said.

The airline flew the two back to Florida that same day.

The couple arrived in Grand Rapids on Saturday.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.