Delta Passengers Given Oxygen After Smoke Fills Barcelona-Boston Flight Midair

A Delta Air Lines flight flying from Barcelona to Boston had to carry out an emergency landing in Portugal since smoke was discovered in the cabin, with a number of people allegedly receiving oxygen while the flight was in progress.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, flight DL251 diverted to Porto after the Airbus A330 had what the airline referred to as a mechanical problem.

The plane left Barcelona-El Prat Airport at approximately 3.15 p.m. local time and was en route over the Atlantic towards Boston when the event occurred.

According to the flight-tracking data, it then turned around and headed back towards Portugal, before landing at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto. Delta stated that the aircraft had landed safely, but emergency teams arrived to meet the passengers following the change of course.

Smoke Detected During Flight

Delta stated that the flight had 283 passengers and 13 crew members; meanwhile, the Portuguese authorities reported that smoke in the cabin had caused the emergency response, although Delta gave the reason for the diversion as a mechanical problem that had been reported.

A number of people were affected as a result of the incident. According to Portuguese emergency authorities interviewed by Reuters, eight passengers were given treatment on the ground after the plane had landed, and three more were sent to hospital for further care. Another report from Portuguese media stated that around 12 people received oxygen while the aircraft was still in flight.

The various reports have given different figures regarding the number of people who received medical attention. Later, some Portuguese authorities stated that 14 people were assisted and four were taken to hospital, while Reuters said that eight people were treated at the airport and three were taken to hospital.

Passengers Treated After Emergency Landing

The plane touched down in Porto at about 5:45 p.m. local time, the flight-tracking data quoted by Reuters showing that this was some two and a half hours after it had left Barcelona; emergency services had already been ready at the airport and carried out treatment of the passengers as soon as they had got off the aircraft.

It was reported that at least two passengers had suffered from mild respiratory symptoms as a result of the incident, and Delta stated that the three passengers who had been taken to hospital had since been discharged, as The Boston Globe noted.

The airline stated that it was taking steps to assist passengers in reaching Boston. In a statement, Delta expressed its regret about the inconvenience and said it was working to get its customers to their final destinations as quickly and safely as possible.

It has not yet been made public where the smoke came from. Delta have mentioned a mechanical problem, whereas the Portuguese emergency authorities referred to the incident as involving smoke in the cabin.

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