Two days after a Delta flight bound for Boston from Barcelona was forced to make an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal, several passengers from Massachusetts are still trying to get home. The airline says a mechanical issue caused smoke and fumes on the aircraft, prompting the diversion.
What happened on the flight
Flight 251 descended rapidly from about 30,000 feet to roughly 10,000 feet, alarming passengers. Chris Sargent of Sterling, Massachusetts, described the sudden drop as “scary,” while his wife Danielle captured the pilot’s announcement: “Whoever does not feel well, please approach.”
Medical responders boarded the plane after touchdown and attended to three passengers who were taken to a local hospital; they have since been released. In total, nearly 300 passengers and the 13‑person crew were evacuated.
Passengers’ experience after the diversion
Many travelers reported long, confusing lines at the airport with no clear guidance. Bill Cantwell of Haverhill said, “We got in a very long line, we didn’t know why we were in the line. There was no one to guide us, we were on our own. We felt abandoned.”
Passengers were later shuttled to hotels, only to learn the next day that the connecting flight back to Boston had been canceled. “There were fights in line — fist fights — that’s how edgy and stressful this has been for everybody,” Cantwell added.
Some travelers reported out‑of‑pocket expenses and even ran out of medication while waiting for new arrangements.
Delta’s response
Delta says employees are contacting customers to help submit expense claims and that the airline takes all safety matters seriously, especially rare events involving smoke or fumes. In a statement, the carrier apologized for the inconvenience, noted that all customers were rebooked on alternative flights via partner airlines, and offered a full refund for eligible tickets as a gesture of goodwill.
While passengers praised the crew’s handling of the evacuation, they criticized the airline’s follow‑up communication and logistics.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
