An exit escape slide on a Boeing 767 operated by Delta Air Lines fell off on Friday, forcing an emergency landing at JFK airport in New York.
The airline reported that shortly after takeoff, pilots received an alert about the emergency slide on the right side of the aircraft and heard an unusual sound coming from the area. They safely circled back to land at JFK Airport.
The Boeing aircraft was produced in 1990, according to an Associated Press story. The plane was carrying 176 passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants; it was scheduled to fly to Los Angeles.
The pilots reported an emergency after they sensed vibrations in the aircraft so that the aircraft could be swiftly and safely diverted back to the airport.
According to Delta, it sent passengers to California on a different aircraft. The airline announced that the Boeing 767 aircraft has been taken out of service and will be "thoroughly" evaluated. It declared that it will assist in the search for the slide and collaborate with inquiries.
Separately, American Airlines announced that, as a result of delays in the delivery of the Boeing 787, it will be modifying some of its routes in the second half of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
The company stated, "We're making these adjustments now to ensure we're able to re-accommodate customers on affected flights."
American Airlines said that despite the route changes, it will still operate on 55 long-haul international routes this winter and won't stop operating in any of its destinations.
The action was taken the day after rival Southwest Airlines announced that it would cease operations at select airports due to problems with 787 deliveries.
According to a Reuters report, US regulators' increased production checks caused a sharp decline in Boeing's 737 MAX output.
