Delta Air Lines is grappling with the aftermath of a spoiled food incident that led to a flight diversion and passenger illnesses. For the second consecutive day, the airline has taken precautionary measures by removing certain meals from its international flights following reports of contaminated food served onboard.
The disruption began when passengers on a Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam reported being served what they described as moldy chicken on Wednesday. Several passengers experienced illness after consuming the meal, prompting the flight crew to declare an emergency and divert the aircraft to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
In response to the incident, Delta has proactively adjusted its in-flight food service. Initially, on Wednesday, approximately 75 international flights were affected, with economy class passengers offered a pasta-only option as a precaution. This measure was extended to Thursday as the airline continued to address the situation.
Delta Investigates Spoiled Food Incident and Apologizes to Passengers
Delta Flight 136, carrying 277 passengers, was en route from Detroit to Amsterdam when the incident unfolded. As reports of passenger illness emerged, the pilots requested medical personnel to be on standby upon arrival. The flight made an emergency landing at JFK around 4 a.m.
Passengers recounted that the pilot informed the cabin about the contaminated chicken. While over a dozen passengers reported feeling unwell, fortunately, no passengers required further medical attention after landing.
Delta promptly addressed the situation by providing affected passengers with hotel accommodations and food vouchers to mitigate the inconvenience caused by the flight diversion. The airline issued a statement expressing regret and outlining the steps taken to investigate the source of the spoiled food.
According to Delta Corporate Communications Spokesperson Lisa Hanna, the airline’s “Food safety team has engaged our suppliers to immediately isolate the product and launch a thorough investigation into the incident.” Hanna further stated, “This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.”
The incident remains under investigation as Delta works to ensure the safety and quality of its in-flight meals and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
