The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened a formal investigation into a serious inflight incident involving a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757, which suffered a catastrophic engine failure over the rugged terrain of Wyoming.
The aircraft, operating as Delta Flight 982, was en route from Salt Lake City to Washington D.C. when the event occurred at approximately 30,000 feet. Passengers and crew were reportedly startled by a series of loud bangs, later identified as a compressor stall within the jet's right-hand engine.
Emergency Diversion to Minneapolis
Following the failure, the flight crew executed emergency procedures and successfully diverted the aircraft to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The landing was completed without further incident, and no injuries were reported among the 176 passengers or crew on board.
In a statement, Delta Air Lines confirmed the event: "Delta flight 982 enroute from Salt Lake City to Washington D.C. diverted to Minneapolis-St. Paul due to a mechanical issue. The aircraft landed safely and customers deplaned normally. We apologise to our customers for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans."
NTSB Investigation Underway
The NTSB has classified the event as an "engine failure and compressor stall" and has launched a full investigation to determine the root cause. Initial findings suggest the failure occurred in the plane's right engine. A team of NTSB investigators will examine the damaged engine and review cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder information.
Such compressor stalls, while rare in modern aviation, represent a significant disruption of the smooth airflow through a jet engine, often resulting in loud noises, vibrations, and a potential loss of thrust.
The affected aircraft, a Boeing 757-200 registered under the number N543US, remains on the ground in Minneapolis pending the completion of the initial investigation. Delta has stated that a replacement aircraft was arranged to transport the passengers to their final destination.
