By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-29 05:15:59 | Updated at 2026-09-29 06:36:02
2 hours ago
A Delta Air Lines aircraft travelling from Barcelona to Boston was forced to divert to Portugal on Sunday after smoke started pouring into the cabin.
The emergency affected more than 280 passengers aboard the Airbus A330-300 on September 27.
Fourteen passengers needed medical treatment following the emergency landing.
Four of those were rushed to hospital in the Porto area after suffering from smoke inhalation.
Those hospitalised were described as having been only "lightly" affected.
The widebody jet had been carrying 283 passengers alongside 13 crew members when the diversion took place.
Delta attributed the emergency landing to a mechanical fault.
An airline spokesman confirmed the incident but declined to address the hospitalisation reports.
Some 14 passengers needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation following the landing
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"The flight landed safely, and we apologise to our customers for the delay in their travels as we work to get them to Boston as safely and quickly as possible," the spokesman said.
The airline said it was arranging rebookings on other services to ensure passengers reached their intended destinations.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notes that cabin air quality aboard commercial aircraft is typically comparable to or superior to that found in homes and offices.
The regulator acknowledges, however, that mechanical faults can occasionally let into the passenger compartment.
Delta attributed the emergency landing to a mechanical fault
"In rare instances, mechanical issues such as failures of an engine oil seal or recirculation fan bearings can cause fumes to enter the cabin," the FAA states on its website.
Carriers operating in the US are obliged to notify the FAA whenever such events occur.
"The FAA investigates the causes and makes sure they're fixed before the aircraft returns to service," the agency adds.
American aviation rules mandate that airlines provide clean air to everyone on board.
The FAA says cabin air quality aboard commercial aircraft is typically comparable to or superior to that found in homes and offices
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Aircraft designs must deliver the equivalent of 250 grams of fresh air per minute for each occupant, a standard the FAA says aligns with other public settings.
The Porto diversion is the latest in a series of mid-flight disruptions to attract attention in recent months.
A Cape Air service heading to Boston earlier this year had to turn back to Nantucket after part of its main cabin door came open during flight.
In a separate episode on August 31, a Delta flight destined for Orlando was forced to returned to Minneapolis-St Paul airport shortly after departure when one of its pilots fell ill.
