A Delta Air Lines flight from London Heathrow to Seattle was forced to declare an emergency and divert to Edinburgh after crews reported a potential technical issue onboard.
Flight DAL21, operated by an Airbus A330-900 carrying 183 passengers and 12 crew members, departed London at approximately 6:45pm on Sunday before turning back while flying north of Scotland.
Emergency Code Issued Over Northern Scotland
Just over an hour after departure, flight tracking data showed the crew issued a squawk 7700 emergency code while flying over northern Scotland.
The emergency transponder code immediately alerts air traffic controllers that an aircraft requires priority handling due to an onboard emergency or abnormal situation.
Shortly afterward, the aircraft performed a U-turn and headed toward Edinburgh Airport.
Aircraft Landed Safely In Edinburgh
The aircraft landed safely in Edinburgh at around 8:30pm local time.
Emergency services met the aircraft upon arrival as part of standard precautionary procedures for flights declaring emergencies.
No injuries among passengers or crew have been reported.
Delta Says Floor Heater Issue Triggered Diversion
Delta later confirmed the diversion was caused by reports of a potential issue involving one of the aircraft’s floor heating systems.
The airline said crews decided to divert as a precaution while technical teams inspected the aircraft.
Modern long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A330 use floor heating systems in certain cabin areas to maintain passenger comfort and protect equipment during long flights.
Passengers Face Travel Disruption After Diversion
The diversion interrupted what would normally be a transatlantic flight of approximately nine to ten hours between London and Seattle.
Delta has not yet confirmed how affected passengers would continue their journeys following the unexpected landing.
