Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Madrid to New York spent more than a day on the small island of Terceira, part of the Azores, after their plane was forced to make an emergency landing due to a serious problem with one of its engines, CBS News reports, reports News.bg.
There were 282 passengers and 13 crew members on board flight DL127 when the Airbus A330 made an emergency landing at Lajes Airport on Sunday, July 6. This is happening in the territory of the autonomous Portuguese region, which is made up of nine volcanic islands. Passengers disembarked the plane by ladder within an hour of landing and spent approximately 29 hours on the island, an airline spokesman said.
“Safety is Delta“s top priority,“ the company said. “After the crew received a report of a mechanical problem with an engine, all procedures were followed to divert to Lajes. The plane landed safely and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.“
The passengers and crew were accommodated in hotels on the island and were provided with meals. On Monday, they continued their journey on a new plane to “John F. Kennedy“ Airport in New York. The flight on the Madrid – New York usually lasts about 8 hours and 20 minutes.
On July 9, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) reported that the crew felt a strong shaking of the machine and a sudden deviation to the left. The on-board ECAM system reported a loss of power and failure of engine No. 1 (the left engine). After completing the necessary checklists, the engine was shut down, an emergency was declared and the aircraft was diverted to Lajes. The left engine is to be replaced. The cause of the failure is still under investigation.
The incident once again highlights the importance of Lajes Air Base, a strategic point in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. With its long and reinforced runway, the base is one of the few capable of receiving the largest passenger and military aircraft in emergency situations. In recent decades, Lajes has been used as a major emergency landing point for transatlantic flights, as well as a logistics hub for NATO and U.S. military missions. Its location allows for quick access to Europe, North America and Africa, and its role in incidents like the one involving flight DL127 shows how important the presence of such infrastructure remains in the Atlantic.
Delta did not say whether the plane has already been taken out of service. The company will contact all affected customers and offer them compensation.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who has been working this year to restore confidence in aviation safety, told CBS News: “When you get on a plane, think about how many millions of people fly every day. Of course, air travel remains a safe place.“
CBS News has also sought the position of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).