(StraightNews.org) – Hundreds of passengers were stranded in Canada when a Delta flight to Detroit from Amsterdam was forced to make an emergency landing. The flight, carrying 270, experienced a technical fault and landed in the small Canadian town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland, which has a military airfield large enough to accommodate the aircraft’s landing.
A Delta spokesperson said the airline had provided accommodation for passengers at a local military base, where they received basic amenities, including food and water. A new plane brought the stranded travelers to Detroit the following day.
Initially, passengers were told that the flight was rerouted because of an issue with de-icing one of its engines. Due to freezing conditions in Goose Bay, the plane could not take off again as planned, and the flight crew had reached the work hour limit allowed. Delta sent a rescue plane, but again, due to weather conditions, it could not land. The result was the passengers sleeping overnight at the military base.
“Crew duty times were impacted due to weather and runway conditions at the Goose Bay airport, causing the airport to suspend operations,” the airline said.
Several people stuck on the plane took to social media, and video clips showed frustration and arguments. In one video on TikTok, a doctor is seen tending to an in-flight medical issue, but full details are unclear. One person complained that they were left on the runway in Canada for ten hours without explanation or communication from the airline.
Delta apologized for the incident and said passengers would receive compensation but would not provide details or specifics. A study in December placed Delta in third place for reimbursing customers – it takes the airline an average of 88 days.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay is a very remote town of about 10,000 people and is located on the coast of Lake Melville and the Churchill River. In the winter, temperatures drop to minus 12 degrees centigrade.
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