A Delta Air Lines transatlantic flight bound for Atlanta was forced to make an abrupt U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean and declare a general emergency before diverting to Dublin Airport.
Flight DL215, operated by an Airbus A330-900 with registration N422DZ, departed Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport at 10:00 AM local time. The aircraft had reached its planned cruising altitude of 36,000 feet after crossing airspace over France and was well into the oceanic portion of its journey toward Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
More than four hours into the flight, the flight crew made the decision to abandon the oceanic crossing, turning the widebody jet around over the North Atlantic and heading east toward Ireland, holding 28,000 feet.
As the aircraft commenced its descent and approach toward Irish airspace, the pilots transmitted a squawk code 7700, the standard international transponder code signaling an emergency on board.
Emergency ground services were alerted at Dublin Airport ahead of the aircraft’s arrival. I twill be met by an ambulance on arrival due to a medical emergency on board.
UPDATE #1
The airline is scheduling a new departure at 4.00PM from Dublin.
UPDATE #2
Touch down on runway 28L.
UPDATE #3
At gate 305. Will need refueling before departing.
UPDATE #4
The flight has been cancelled, the crew is probably running out of hours.
