A Delta Airlines flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing at New York’s JFK Airport after passengers and crew, including both pilots, were served mouldy chicken, a traveller revealed.
Nancy Kirchoff, 65, on the flight with her husband, said the pilot announced they were turning around due to a “food issue” after mould was discovered on the chicken. The flight, Delta Airlines flight 136, departed from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport just before 11 pm on Tuesday and landed at JFK around 4 am Wednesday.
Kirchoff recounted the incident, saying, “We were probably halfway to Amsterdam, around Nova Scotia and starting to cross the ocean when the pilot came on and said there was some type of food issue.” Flight attendants checked on passengers‘ well-being, asking if anyone felt sick. “They said they saw some mould on the chicken,” Kirchoff added. Although no passengers showed symptoms, both pilots had consumed the contaminated meal.
Medics met the plane at JFK, providing aid to 14 passengers and 10 flight crew, all of whom declined medical attention.
The incident led to considerable travel disruption. A Delta spokesperson confirmed, “Delta flight 136 from Detroit to Amsterdam diverted to New York’s JFK early Wednesday morning after it was discovered that a portion of the in-flight meal service was spoiled. Medical crews were on-site to meet the aircraft and treat any affected passengers and crew members. Delta teams will immediately work to gather information about how this incident occurred. This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.
Kirchoff and her husband, who were en route to celebrate their 20th anniversary on a cruise, had their tickets changed three times before being rebooked on another flight to Amsterdam. They are expected to arrive in the Netherlands on Thursday, missing the first day of their cruise but planning to join it at the first port stop.
A frustrated passenger took to social media, questioning how the airline would ensure timely travel to Amsterdam following the emergency landing due to “contaminated” food.
Delta Airlines has apologized for the incident and is conducting a thorough investigation with LSG Sky Chefs, the provider of their meal services, to determine how the mouldy chicken ended up on the flight.
This incident follows another emergency landing for Delta in April when a flight from New York to Los Angeles was diverted back to JFK after an emergency slide detached from the aircraft. No injuries were reported in that incident.
Passengers affected by the recent diversion were provided with hotel accommodations and transportation, and efforts are being made to rebook them on alternate flights to their intended destinations.
