by A Delta Airlines flight from Edinburgh bound for New York was cut short for an “emergency landing” after the plane caught fire shortly after takeoff.
Delta flight DAL209 was diverted to begin an emergency landing at an airport in Prestwick, Scotland, shortly after taking off from the Scottish capital, as a flurry of flames engulfed the wing of the commercial aircraft, the BBC reported. The mid-flight combustion was attributed to “engine problems”.
A Delta flight from Edinburgh to New York made an emergency landing at Prestwick after flames were seen erupting from one of the wings. One passenger described a “horrendous” noise that “then cut to nothing as if the engines had stopped”, saying there was gasping and crying. #HeartNews pic.twitter.com/uAmZyU0eq8
— Heart Scotland News (@HeartScotNews) February 10, 2023
Before the plane was diverted to perform the emergency landing, people on board heard a “loud bang”, according to the agency. (RELATED: Huge Whale-Looking Aircraft, the Airbus Beluga, Struck by Lightning Moments After Takeoff)
BBC Scotland News journalist Laura Pettigrew was one of the passengers on board and was quoted in the report as saying: “The plane took off and there was a loud engine noise, similar to noise normally during take-off and landing, but it seemed to continue as soon as we are in the air.”
https://t.co/MIY5nDyl7Z New York-bound flight forced to make emergency landing in Scotland – videos from The Weather Channel
After an apparent mechanical issue resulted in a mid-air fire, a Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Scotland. pic.twitter.com/fZH8Ax4Qha—James Wilson (@tornadokid3) February 12, 2023
The Delta crew was “amazing” and managed to keep “everyone calm”, the writer continued. (RELATED: Plane Flies for 13 Hours, Lands at the Same Airport It Departed From)
“There was no real panic among the passengers, just confusion. However, some families with children were quite distressed,” said the journalist.
That said, the noise was so loud that subsequent Delta announcements over the loudspeaker were inaudible, Pettigrew noted.
From there, passengers noticed that the plane began to land. As soon as it touched down, Scottish fire trucks and firefighters armed with hoses rushed towards the aircraft. (RELATED: Two Dead After Plane Crashes In Ohio Car Dealership Parking Lot)
“The pilots seemed to do a good job of taking us down safely. Apparently, the cabin crew was preparing for a crash landing,” she continued.
The BBC writer explained that she was unaware that the plane was on fire until after the emergency landing, learning about the incident from overhearing others discussing the fire at the Scottish airport.
No passengers on board were injured.
