767 Aircraft Detects Anomaly Immediately After Takeoff from New York to LA
Returns to JFK Airport... No Casualties Reported
A Boeing 767 passenger plane operated by Delta Air Lines in the United States made an emergency return after an emergency evacuation slide fell off shortly after takeoff.
On the 26th (local time), foreign media including the AP reported that at 7:15 a.m., a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 passenger plane departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and heading to Los Angeles experienced an incident where the emergency evacuation slide on the right side of the cabin fell off shortly after takeoff. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the crew reported hearing strange noises and feeling vibrations near the airplane's wing at the time of the incident.
Upon realizing that the slide had fallen off, the pilot immediately turned the plane around and returned to JFK Airport at 8:35 a.m. There were 176 passengers, 2 pilots, and 5 crew members on board, but fortunately, there were no casualties. Authorities confirmed that the emergency evacuation slide had detached from the plane immediately after landing. Delta Air Lines said, "We will investigate the exact cause of the accident" and "have suspended operations of the affected aircraft." They are also conducting a search to recover the fallen emergency slide. Furthermore, Delta Air Lines explained, "Nothing is more important than customer safety," adding that "the crew received extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK Airport."
On January 8th (local time), investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) examined the door plug of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737 Max 9 found in a residential area in Portland, Oregon. [Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]
Concerns are growing about the aircraft following a series of recent accidents involving Boeing passenger planes at various airlines. On January 5th, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 passenger plane that took off from Portland International Airport in Oregon made an emergency landing after part of a window and wall were torn off while flying at about 5,000 meters altitude. There were 174 passengers and 6 crew members on board at the time, and several people sustained minor injuries. A preliminary investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that four bolts securing a door were missing during the assembly process of the aircraft.
On the 6th of last month, smoke was detected in the cabin of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 passenger plane heading to Phoenix, causing it to return to Portland Airport. Two days later, a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 experienced an incident where it veered off the runway while taxiing after landing at Houston International Airport in Texas.
Additionally, at 8:15 a.m. on the 7th, the engine cowling of a Southwest Airlines plane heading from Denver Airport to Houston detached during takeoff. The aircraft model was a Boeing 737-800 passenger plane, and it had to return to its departure point. Southwest Airlines later issued a statement saying, "(The aircraft) experienced a mechanical issue but landed safely," and apologized for the delay, emphasizing that "the ultimate safety of customers and employees is the top priority." Passengers on the affected flight reportedly transferred to other planes.
Some passengers took and shared photos and videos showing the engine cowling fluttering in the wind while airborne. The flight altitude at the time was 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). One passenger said, "The engine cowling came off less than 10 minutes after takeoff," adding, "It was shocking for all of us. I like window seats, so I was looking outside when I saw the engine cowling had detached." Another passenger described the situation as "scary," saying, "People started yelling at the flight attendants to report the damage." There were no injuries, and the plane returned and landed about 25 minutes after takeoff.
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