Delta Flight Forced to Delay Takeoff After De-Icing Fluid Soaks Passenger
A Delta Airlines flight experienced a highly unusual delay when de-icing fluid managed to leak into the aircraft cabin, soaking a passenger's clothing and prompting a return to the gate for maintenance checks.
Incident Details and Timeline
Delta flight 1307 was preparing to depart from LaGuardia Airport in New York at 2:10 PM on Sunday, 18 January, bound for Jacksonville, Florida. The scheduled two-hour journey was disrupted when crew members reported that de-icing fluid had entered the cabin and landed on a passenger.
In an air traffic control recording obtained by LiveATC.net, the Delta pilot can be heard requesting to leave the de-icing pad and return to the gate. "We had a bunch of de-icing fluid leak inside the aircraft and soak a passenger," the pilot informed the controller.
Safety Procedures and Passenger Response
The controller inquired if the passenger required medical assistance or simply needed to dry off. The pilot responded that new trousers might be necessary for the passenger, but expressed concern about how the fluid entered the fuselage. "We're not used to that coming into the fuselage like that, so we want to have maintenance take a look at it, make sure that we don't have a leak," the pilot stated.
A Delta spokesperson later clarified to The Independent that the passenger was seated near the wings and only a small amount of the non-hazardous fluid landed on his clothes. The airline emphasised that such leaks are "very rare" and the chemicals used are safe for passengers.
De-Icing Process and Aircraft Swap
De-icing is a critical safety procedure in cold weather, involving a mixture of warm water and propylene glycol to remove snow and ice from a plane's exterior. Accumulation can alter wing shape and hinder airflow and component movement.
Out of caution, maintenance teams swapped the aircraft. The customer continued travelling with Delta, and after the swap, the flight departed LaGuardia three hours behind schedule, landing in Jacksonville just before 8:00 PM.
The Independent has contacted LaGuardia Airport for further comment on the incident.
