The pilot of Allegiant 426 can be heard arguing with the airport tower at the closed Fargo’s Hector global Airport saying he doesn’t have enough fuel to divert the plane.

According to a recording of radio traffic, the control tower told the pilot to wait until the airspace was cleared of the fighter jets.

The air traffic controller suggested they attempt a landing at Grand Forks Airport, 110 kilometres to the north, but the pilot said they wouldn’t make it.

“Yeah listen we’re at bingo fuel here in about probably 3, 3 to 4 minutes and I gotta come in and land”.

Adding to the confusion: Allegiant’s flight operations centre told Fargo controllers the aircraft had the necessary extra fuel, said Elizabeth Cory, an FAA spokeswoman.

The pilot indicated that the plane did not have enough fuel to land at another airport.

Eventually the pilot declares an emergency and safely lands in Fargo.

While the Allegiant flight avoided catastrophe, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is wrapping up its probe into the 2014 Virgin Galactic space flight that left the co-pilot dead and its pilot severely battered.

“Okay”, the pilot said.

The pilot was also notified by the airport employee that the airline should have known about the scheduled closing for months. The pilot, sounding a bit flustered, responded, “Okay”. Fargo airport manager Shawn Dobberstein confirmed the emergency landing but said he knew no detail.

“We follow up with the airlines on all such events”, said Lynn Lunsford, an FAA spokesman.

In a statement released to The Associated Press, as reported by FOX News, the airline which is based in Las Vegas said: “At this time, we are coordinating with the FAA and the airport to investigate all channels of communication regarding the flight and the circumstances leading to the declaration of emergency”.

An Allegiant pilot who requested anonymity, said Baden has been an advocate for the airline’s flights operating with minimal fuel reserves to enable the aircraft to be lighter and more efficient. “It is a requirement for pilots to review NOTAMs before flight”.

Not hearing of the flight limitations, the pilot said he was left with few options.

“The pilot’s going to get to answer some interesting questions from the FAA”, Cox said.