According to the old adage, flying is the safest way to travel, and while that may be technically true, it probably helps if the plane’s engine doesn’t fall apart along the way.
Terrified travellers aboard a Boeing 717 were mortified this weekend when their plane’s engine cover fell off mid-flight, after the plane hit turbulence, Mashable reports.
The Delta airline flight, which was travelling from Atlanta to Chicago, was forced to make an emergency landing at Nashville International Airport when the right engine’s outer cover fell off at 28,000 feet.
As you’d expect, the incident forced the pilot to declare a state of emergency. Thankfully, despite the cover hitting the fuselage, it caused no further problems.
The plane was then able land safely, taxi to the airport gate and the 109 passengers on board walked off with no injuries reported.
Passengers were given food and beverages, while they waited in the terminal for another plane, as ‘a gesture of apology,’ the airline said.
The flight continued onto Chicago three hours later.
The airline said in a statement:
Delta will fully investigate this episode as the safety and security of our customers and employees is always our top priority.
All’s well that ends well then, but it’d take more than a free meal to get me back on that plane…
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.