Evacuation slide blows up inside plane and injures crew after emergency landing

11 June 2023 , 10:06

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The emergency inflatable slide blew up and hit a crew member (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

An evacuation inflatable slide blew up inside a plane and struck a flight attendant moments after an emergency landing.

A Delta flight from JFK to Los on Angeles, which was carrying 168 passengers on Saturday, was forced to make an emergency landing in Utah, US, due to technical difficulties.

The pilot of the B767-300 announced the plane needed to land in Salt Lake City due to a problem with the backup system's temperature instrument, which was needed for icy conditions.

The flight, which left New York, after 7am, landed safely and the passengers were told to leave the aircraft until the technical problem was fixed.

The Delta flight had to make an emergency landing (Bayne Stanley / Avalon)

Once the temperature instrument was fixed, the plane was ready to take off again at around 1pm in Utah.

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But as passengers boarded the plane again, an inflatable slide at the rear of the aircraft was accidentally opened inside while it was still at the gate.

The slide whacked a Delta crew member in the face and they were taken to hospital for treatment. The condition of the cabin crew member is unclear.

Passengers were ordered off the plane (Getty Images)

According to eyewitnesses, one passenger revealed the slide was "exploding" inside the plane.

While another said the crew member forced a panel out the door when the inflatable slide accidentally deployed "like an airbag" in a car.

According to the New York Post, the slide had been accidentally deployed by the plane's catering crew.

Passengers were told to leave the plane for a second time and they were eventually booked on a different aircraft, which was was set to leave Utah for Los Angeles at 4pm.

The disrupted passengers were given 7,500 miles by the airline for the inconvenience.

Delta said the aircraft's slide was deployed by accident which resulted in the passengers being re-accommodated on a new plane.

A Delta spokesperson said in a statement: “Delta flight 520, operating from New York-JFK to Los Angeles diverted to Salt Lake City due to a maintenance issue.

"While on the ground, the same aircraft’s slide was deployed by accident. In an effort to get our customers to their final destination as quickly and safely as possible, they have been re-accommodated on a new aircraft.

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"We apologise for the delay to their traveling plans. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people.”

Liam Buckler