Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing Due to Spoiled Food

A Delta Airlines flight from Detroit, MI to the Netherlands was forced to make an emergency landing in New York City early Wednesday after dozens of passengers and crew were served spoiled in-flight meals and fell ill.

The fight, which had 277 passengers on board, had departed from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday night and had been scheduled to arrive in Amsterdam around 4:15 a.m. local time on July 4. However, after crew discovered that some of the meals provided for the in-flight meal service had been spoiled, the flight was diverted to JFK Airport.

When the plane landed, medics were waiting and provided care to 14 passengers and 10 flight crew, all of whom declined to receive medical attention, according to The Daily Mail.

A Port Authority spokesperson confirmed that the passengers were provided with hotel rooms and transportation until their flights could be rebooked. But that was of little consequence to stranded travelers. 

"I need to know how you’re going to get me to Amsterdam today," one passenger asked Delta on social media. "I’m on the plane that’s emergency landing at JFK because you served passengers 'contaminated' food—I don’t need hotel/food vouchers, I need to arrive in Amsterdam today."

.@delta I need to know how you’re going to get me to Amsterdam today - I’m on the plane that’s emergency landing at JFK because you served passengers “contaminated” food - I don’t need hotel/food vouchers I need to arrive in Amsterdam today.

— Virginia (@tralala_bk) July 3, 2024

A Delta spokesperson likewise confirmed that the flight had been diverted early Wednesday morning "after it was discovered that a portion of the in-flight meal service was spoiled."

"Medical crews were on site to meet the aircraft and treat any affected passengers and crew members. Delta teams will immediately work to gather information into how this incident occurred," the spokesperson said. "This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels."

It's unclear what symptoms the ill passengers were experiencing, but it sounds like it could have been even worse. In recent years, there have been a growing number of flights that have had to be canceled or make emergency landings due to sick customers defecting uncontrollably. So perhaps it's a good thing they got ahold of the situation before the aircraft began to cross the Atlantic.