Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing on Remote Atlantic Island

A Delta Air Lines transatlantic flight was forced to make an emergency landing on a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after experiencing engine trouble, stranding passengers for over 31 hours.

Flight 127 was en route from Madrid to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday when it diverted to Lajes Airport (TER) in the Azores, Portugal. The airline cited a mechanical issue with one of the Airbus A330’s engines as the reason for the diversion.

The aircraft carried 282 passengers and 13 crew members. All travelers deplaned safely via stairs and were accommodated overnight in local hotels. Delta provided meals and assistance during the extended delay.

Passengers remained on Terceira Island in the Azores overnight before being flown out on a replacement aircraft Monday evening. The second leg of the journey took off at 9:07 p.m. GMT and landed at JFK at 10:36 p.m. ET, according to FlightAware.

The delay totaled more than 31 and a half hours beyond the flight’s scheduled arrival of just before 3 p.m. Sunday.

“The flight landed safely, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience and delay,” Delta said in a statement.

While the unexpected stop disrupted travel plans, Delta emphasized its commitment to safety, stating that the precautionary diversion was made out of an abundance of caution.

This incident underscores the challenges airlines face when operating long-haul routes over remote areas with limited emergency landing options.