Delta Flight Diversion Leaves Passengers Stranded Without Food or Water for Hours

Passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Accra, Ghana, to New York found themselves stranded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when their flight was forced to divert to Lajes Airport on Terceira Island in the Azores. The unexpected diversion to an airport not typically served by Delta left passengers without adequate resources, including food and water, until a relief plane arrived later.

Delta spokesperson Drake Castaneda explained, “Delta flight 157 from Accra to New York-JFK diverted to Lajes Airport following a mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system. The crew descended to a lower altitude out of an abundance of caution during the diversion, and the aircraft landed safely.” He added, “An alternate aircraft was dispatched from Lisbon to help our customers more quickly get to their final destinations while the original aircraft was repaired by maintenance technicians. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.”

It was clarified that the malfunctioning backup oxygen system was solely for the cockpit’s air supply, and the passengers’ oxygen supply remained normal throughout the flight. However, regulations mandate the proper functioning of this system on all planes, and any malfunction necessitates an immediate diversion to the nearest safe airport.

Social media posts revealed frustrated passengers at Lajes Airport, as Delta’s limited presence at the unfamiliar location hindered their ability to provide assistance promptly.

Delta explained that the original crew needed to proceed to a hotel for their mandatory rest period, further limiting the airline’s on-site presence in an airport it does not regularly serve. All passengers were fully refunded for their flights and offered additional credits.

Compounding the passengers’ frustrations, severe weather conditions in the Northeast affected their arrival in New York, overwhelming Delta staff at JFK Airport, who were already managing numerous rebookings.

Additionally, passengers on the Ghana flight experienced a delay in receiving their luggage, as it remained on the original plane to minimize the relief crew’s ground time. There was only a limited window of about an hour for the replacement crew before their duty clock expired, necessitating their mandatory rest period.