A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 was forced to return to New York – JFK after one of its emergency slides deployed mid-air.
The Boeing 767-300 with registration N176DN, manufactured in 1990, was operating Delta flight DL520 bound for Los Angeles with 176 passengers and 7 crew members on board.
However, while flight DL520 was climbing out of JFK, the right overwing emergency slide was unexpectedly deployed. Following this, the crew stopped the climb at around 19,000 feet and returned to JFK. The B767 landed safely at JFK around 33 minutes after departure with no further incidents.
According to a Delta spokesperson, the crew received an indication from the right hand wing emergency slide. They also reported hearing some sound from the right hand wing.
“Delta Air Lines Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration. The Boeing 767 was headed to Los Angeles International Airport. The FAA will investigate.”
FAA Spokesperson
The cause of the emergency slide deployment remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).