ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE — A Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Atlanta to Santiago was forced to make an emergency diversion early Tuesday morning after the crew reported technical issues while over the Pacific Ocean.
Delta Flight DL147, operated by an Airbus A350-900 (Registration: N513DZ), departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Monday, March 30, 2026, at 10:24 PM EDT. The aircraft was approximately eight hours into its nine-hour journey to Santiago (SCL) when the situation unfolded.
Incident Timeline
- Departure: The flight took off normally Monday night, cruising initially at 37,000 feet before climbing to 39,000 feet as it traveled south off the coasts of Ecuador and Peru.
- Emergency Signal: While off the coast of northern Chile, the flight crew transmitted a Squawk 7700, the international aviation code for a general emergency.
- Diversion: The aircraft began a rapid descent and diverted to Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (ANF) in Antofagasta, landing safely at approximately 7:42 AM local time.
Current Status: Potential Engine Issue
The aircraft was initially scheduled to resume its leg to Santiago at 9:30 AM CLST. However, the plane remains grounded in Antofagasta as maintenance teams investigate what sources describe as a possible engine issue.
Delta Air Lines has confirmed that the flight is now rescheduled to depart Antofagasta at 8:00 PM local time, nearly 12 hours after its emergency landing.
Passenger Impact
The airline is reportedly providing assistance to the passengers currently stranded at the Antofagasta terminal. This incident marks a challenging 48 hours for Delta’s South American operations, following a separate engine-related emergency involving a flight departing São Paulo on Sunday.
