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5 injured after Delta flight from Nigeria to Atlanta forced to turn back due to engine issues

Passengers had to use the emergency slides to exit the plane onto the runway.
(Photo by Barry Williams/Getty Images)

ATLANTA — Delta officials confirm an Atlanta-bound flight from Lagos, Nigeria was forced to turn back Tuesday after the plane experienced engine issues.

According to Delta, flight 55 from Murtala Mohammed Internationl Airport in Lagos took off from the airport around 10:50 p.m. Nigeria time. Flight tracking website FlightAware indicates the flight had only been in the air for a little less than an hour and a half, and had only traveled 29 of its roughly 5,800-mile journey, before one of the A330-200's two engines reported issues.

Delta said the flight landed safely shortly after midnight, but passengers had to use the emergency slides to exit the plane onto the runway. Airport fire crews met the plane on arrival, and passengers were bussed back to the terminal.

At this time, Delta said it is aware of five customers who reported non-critical injuries during the evacuation. The company said it's now focused on trying to find overnight hotel accommodations for customers, and will likely rebook them on a Wednesday afternoon flight.

"The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is always our top priority," the company concluded.

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