Corrected entry: Once again, a technical detail overlooked regarding runabout transporters. After transporting the alien column to the runabout, Dax tells the computer to realign the transporters to beam them aboard. Once again, a party of more than two people was beamed up by a runabout at the same time. The writers seem to keep missing that technical detail... Federation runabouts can only handle two people at once in their transporters.
Corrected entry: The rescue team is taken down the Bajor in a Federation runabout, capable of beaming up only two people at once, as established in a previous episode. Yet when the team finds Major Kira, Sisko calls to Chief O'Brien to beam them up. All five of them are promptly energized at the same time.
Correction: A basic runabout can be upgraded in a number of ways to include more sensors, torpedo launchers & phasers. Whats to say they can't do the same with the transporters to hold more people?
Correction: Parts of runabouts, like sensors & torpedo launchers, are able to be upgraded depending on the mission; so additional transporters could have been installed.