Delta plane damaged by hail, diverts back to Barcelona
Bird strikes, turbulence and weather: Despite hazards, flying is extremely safe
The company did not respond to questions regarding the extent of the damage. The plane returned less than an hour after takeoff, circling twice before landing back at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The incident is not the only one of its kind in recent years. Another Delta flight from Milan to New York made an emergency landing in Rome in 2023 after the plane was pummeled by hail not long after departure.
This story was updated to add new information.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
19 hours ago
- Reuters
NTSB probing Delta flight that injured 25 after severe turbulence
July 31 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating a Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab flight that took off on Wednesday from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Amsterdam that injured 25 people and was diverted to Minneapolis due to severe turbulence. On Thursday, Delta said seven crew members on the Airbus A330-900 who were taken to hospitals have been released and all passengers taken to hospitals for evaluation who were willing to disclose their status to the airline have been released. Delta said it is cooperating with the NTSB investigation. Delta Flight 56 was diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport after experiencing "significant turbulence," over Wyoming, Delta said. The plane was carrying 275 passengers and 13 crew. Delta said medical personnel evaluated everyone on board after the jet had landed safely in Minneapolis. The aircraft encountered turbulence shortly after reaching 37,000 feet (11,277.6 m), briefly climbing to about 38,000 feet before descending to just below 35,800 feet. It later stabilized at an altitude of 37,000 feet, according to flight-tracking service FlightRadar24. Delta is operating an unscheduled flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam Thursday evening to transport impacted customers.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Delta jet to Amsterdam noses dives leading to 25 hospitalized
By Passengers aboard a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam said they feared for their lives as it plummeted over 1,500 feet before making an emergency landing. At least 25 people were injured as Delta flight 56 was diverted to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport around 5.30pm on Wednesday , two hours into its eight-hour journey. Delta confirmed in a statement that severe turbulence rocked the aircraft, with witnesses describing how its impact threw people into the air as beverage carts crashed around inside the cabin. Data from flight tracking site FlightAware showed that the plane plummeted over 1,600 feet in an 85 second span, with passengers saying that there 'was a moment where we thought we were going down.' The flight then continued for over an hour after the terrifying altitude drop before landing safely in Minneapolis. An image from inside the aircraft showed food and drinks strewn across the rear of the jet, as passengers said flight attendants were swept off their feet. 'I just saw everything fly through the air,' passenger Joseph Carbone told Fox Salt Lake City. 'I've never experienced anything like that.' Carbone said the Delta jet was hit with a wave of turbulence that sent people flying, before a second and third burst of turbulence battered the aircraft, and 'each one got worse.' At least 25 people were taken to hospital after the emergency landing, with reported injuries including a broken leg and fractured ribs. Passenger LeeAnn Clement-Nash told ABC News that she was left terrified after witnessing dozens of people being thrown into the air, and feared the jet was going to crash land. 'If you didn't have your seatbelt on, everyone that didn't, hit the ceiling and fell to the ground. 'And the carts also hit the ceiling and fell to the ground, and people were injured. That happened several times, so it was pretty scary,' she said. 'There was a moment where we thought we were going down, I'm still very shaken from it, it was very scary. 'One young lady in particular I believe she got thrown up twice and landed on people, I believe she ended up with some fractured ribs.' Her partner, who had been travelling with her, described feeling the plane 'rise rapidly up about 500ft and then somewhat of a nosedive very rapidly down about 1,500ft.' A total of 275 passengers and 13 crew members were on board at the time of the mid-flight catastrophe. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Fire Department and paramedics met the shaken passengers off the jet after it made the emergency landing. Carbone said that he believes some of the injuries to his fellow passengers were 'serious', but their exact conditions are not yet clear. 'From now on, when I'm not up going to the bathroom or doing something, I'll be in my seat with my seatbelt on,' he added. 'You learn that lesson real fast. 'I'm very grateful that we are safe and sound by the grace of God... we're here.' A Delta spokesperson said after the incident: 'We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved. 'Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs.' Delta did not immediately respond to a request for further information on the status of the injured passengers.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Delta jet NOSE DIVED towards ground during extreme turbulence hurling passengers into ceiling and sending 25 to hospital
Passengers aboard a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam said they feared for their lives as it plummeted over 1,500 feet before making an emergency landing. At least 25 people were injured as Delta flight 56 was diverted to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport around 5.30pm on Wednesday, two hours into its eight-hour journey. Delta confirmed in a statement that severe turbulence rocked the aircraft, with witnesses describing how its impact threw people into the air as beverage carts crashed around inside the cabin. An image from inside the aircraft showed food and drinks strewn across the rear of the jet, as passengers said flight attendants were swept off their feet. 'I just saw everything fly through the air,' passenger Joseph Carbone told Fox Salt Lake City. 'I've never experienced anything like that.' Carbone said the Delta jet was hit with a wave of turbulence that sent people flying, before a second and third wave of turbulence battered the aircraft, and 'each one got worse.' Data from flight tracking site FlightAware showed that the plane plummeted over 1,500 feet in a minute. At least 25 people were taken to hospital after the emergency landing, with reported injuries including a broken leg and fractured ribs. Passenger LeeAnn Clement-Nash told ABC News that she was left terrified after witnessing dozens of people being thrown into the air, and feared the jet was going to crash land. 'If you didn't have your seatbelt on, everyone that didn't, hit the ceiling and fell to the ground. 'And the carts also hit the ceiling and fell to the ground, and people were injured. That happened several times, so it was pretty scary,' she said. 'There was a moment where we thought we were going down, I'm still very shaken from it, it was very scary. 'One young lady in particular I believe she got thrown up twice and landed on people, I believe she ended up with some fractured ribs.' Her partner, who had been travelling with her, described feeling the plane 'rise rapidly up about 500ft and then somewhat of a nosedive very rapidly down about 1,500ft.' A total of 275 passengers and 13 crew members were on board at the time of the mid-flight catastrophe. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Fire Department and paramedics met the shaken passengers off the jet after it made the emergency landing. Carbone said that he believes some of the injuries to his fellow passengers were 'serious', but their exact conditions are not yet clear. 'From now on, when I'm not up going to the bathroom or doing something, I'll be in my seat with my seatbelt on,' he added. 'You learn that lesson real fast. 'I'm very grateful that we are safe and sound by the grace of God... we're here.' A Delta spokesperson said after the incident: 'We are grateful for the support of all emergency responders involved. 'Safety is our No. 1 value at Delta and our Delta Care Team is working directly with customers to support their immediate needs.' Delta did not immediately respond to a request for further information on the status of the injured passengers.
