A Delta Airlines flight en route to New York’s JFK Airport was forced to declare an emergency and turn back over the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday afternoon due to a mechanical issue.
Flight DAL4, which departed London Heathrow Airport at 4:24pm local time, was scheduled to arrive in New York City at 9:23pm Eastern Time, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.
The aircraft, a Boeing 767-400, was carrying 129 passengers, three pilots, and nine flight attendants. The flight was diverted to Shannon Airport in Ireland after crew members identified a mechanical fault involving flight deck window heat, Delta confirmed to DailyMail.com.
In a statement, the airline said:
“The captain followed standard procedure and diverted to the nearest suitable airport. The flight landed safely and customers deplaned at an arrival gate.”
Emergency protocols were enacted swiftly, and all passengers and crew safely evacuated the aircraft upon landing in Ireland.
Delta added:
“We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans. As nothing is more important than safety, the crew of Delta flight 4 followed standard procedures to divert to Shannon, Ireland after observing a mechanical issue.”
The airline has not confirmed when or how the affected passengers will be rebooked for their onward journey to New York.
This latest aviation incident comes amid heightened public concern, following a fatal crash in the Caribbean Sea just a day earlier. In that tragedy, at least 12 people were killed after a Jetstream aircraft operated by Honduran airline Lanhsa plunged into the water shortly after takeoff from Roatan Island.
According to authorities, an apparent mechanical failure caused the aircraft to make a sharp turn before crashing. Among the victims was beloved Honduran musician and politician Aurelio Martinez.
As global aviation safety remains under scrutiny, Tuesday’s Delta flight diversion is a stark reminder of the importance of early detection and emergency response.
Further details on rescheduling for Delta passengers are expected to be released in due course.
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