A Boeing-built Delta Airlines flight departing Aruba for Atlanta was forced to turn back and make an emergency landing after an engine blew out during takeoff.
The pilot of the Boeing 737 900 circled the Caribbean island four times before landing due to a ‘mechanical issue’.
A spokesperson for the airline told DailyMail.com that there were 168 passengers, four flight attendants, and two pilots aboard. The passengers had to spend an extra night in Aruba before flying out on Wednesday.
“Delta flight DL581 from Aruba to Atlanta experienced a mechanical issue shortly after takeoff. It landed safely and returned to the gate uneventfully,’ the spokesperson said.
“One of the engines blew up mid-takeoff; we circled Aruba four times”
“Delta teams are working to get our customers to their final destinations as quickly and safely as possible, and we apologize for the delay in their travels.”
One passenger described the incident on Reddit, stating that ‘one of the engines blew up mid-takeoff, we circled Aruba four times and emergency landed.’
The passenger stated that Delta paid for the passenger’s hotel and meals.
Another passenger reported hearing a ‘loud boom’ shortly into the flight.
‘It sounded like it happened right after the landing gear was raised. I thought one side of the gear became stuck and went up late.
The passenger stated that the captain came on the announcer system to inform everyone that the left engine was on fire but under control. After performing the necessary checks, the pilot decided to fly back to Aruba.
“The passengers were all pretty calm about it. We deboarded the plane and were told a large bird had flown into the engine.”
Boeing must improve its safety culture and address quality issues: FAA
On Tuesday, the head of the United States Federal Aviation Administration stated that Boeing must improve its safety culture and address quality issues before the agency will allow it to increase 737 MAX production. Following a mid-air emergency on an Alaska Airlines jet earlier in the month, the FAA took the unprecedented step of not allowing Boeing to expand 737 MAX production in late January.
FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that the agency has not yet begun discussions with Boeing about increasing 737 production, and that an increase will only be permitted if Boeing is ‘running a quality system safely.’
Whitaker stated that he has the tools to hold Boeing ‘accountable and fully intends to use them.’
Boeing did not immediately respond.
Whitaker stated that Boeing is allowed to produce 38 737 planes per month, but actual current production ‘is lower than that’; he did not elaborate.