Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Pressure Issue Causes Bleeding

On September 15, a Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland International Airport in Oregon was forced to make an emergency landing due to a cabin pressure issue. This unsettling situation resulted in 10 passengers experiencing bleeding from their noses and ears.

A Delta representative expressed their regret regarding the incident, stating, “We sincerely apologize to our customers for their experience on flight 1203 on September 15. The flight crew followed procedures to return to SLC where our teams on the ground supported our customers with their immediate needs.”

Upon returning to Salt Lake City, the Boeing 737-900, which was carrying 140 passengers, landed safely at approximately 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday.

One affected passenger, Jaci Purser, shared her alarming experience: “Our ears just started hurting really, really bad. Everybody around us was grabbing their ears. People’s ears started bleeding. People’s noses started bleeding.” She further described a distressing sound, saying, “I heard some air come out and then it started bubbling. It sounded like my ear was bubbling, my right ear. I touched my ear and there was blood coming out.”

The Salt Lake City Fire Department met the flight upon landing. Fortunately, they reported that there were no serious injuries, and no passengers were transported to the hospital. Delta Air Lines offered transportation for those who wished to seek additional medical care.

After the incident, the 737-900 was taken out of service to address the pressurization issue, which was resolved before the aircraft returned to operation on Monday.

In the meantime, Delta arranged for another plane to ensure that the affected passengers could reach their intended destination.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into the incident to ensure that proper protocols and safety measures are maintained in the future.