A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Chicago took an unexpected turn when a ceiling panel detached mid-flight, forcing passengers to hold it up by hand until a makeshift repair could be made.
Speaking with People, Tom Witschy, a 35-year-old passenger from Chicago, described the tense moments aboard Delta Flight 2417, which departed Atlanta on April 14. The plane eventually returned to its origin due to the incident.
“During takeoff, myself and the passenger next to me heard a sound above us that we assumed was a bag banging against the overhead bin,” Witschy said. “Shortly after takeoff there was a loud banging sound and the panel of the roof of the plane came off, crashing down, nearly hitting an older woman seated in the aisle seat in the row ahead of me in 18B.”
According to Witschy, the panel was barely attached, clinging only by a front corner. He and two other passengers grabbed onto it to prevent further damage as the plane continued its ascent.
“The three of us kept on holding it for 10 to 15 minutes until the flight attendants could come up from their seats and investigate,” Witschy explains. “We kept holding it as they alerted the pilots and searched their inventory for tape. This went on for another 30 minutes or so.”
While these efforts were underway, another passenger, whom Witschy said was an engineer, climbed onto an armrest to inspect the damage.
“My neighbor determined there was a missing screw/bolt holding the corner of the panel directly above the woman ahead of me and the panel and it wouldn’t stay in place absent us taping it up,” Witschy explained. “One of the flight attendants scoured the plane until a man ahead of us offered bright yellow scotch tape he happened to have, and that’s what she and several other people used to tape it up.”
Passengers held the panel for approximately 30 to 45 minutes until it was secured with the tape. The flight ultimately turned back toward Atlanta rather than continuing to Chicago, despite being closer to their destination.
“What should have been a quick one-hour-and-change flight ended up being an all-day ordeal,” Witschy said. “People were mostly shocked that it happened at all, that we were holding it as long as we were and exasperated that we were returning to Atlanta after all that.”
He added, “For our trouble, the flight attendants offered those of us seated around the panel 10,000 miles each for holding it up and helping. I still filed a refund request because it cost me a day of work, but haven’t heard back from Delta.”
In a statement provided to People, Delta apologized for the disruption, saying, “Delta thanks our customers for their patience and cooperation. We apologize for the delay in their travels.”
The airline reported that the Boeing 717 returned for cabin maintenance and that no injuries were reported. Travelers continued to Chicago on a replacement aircraft after a delay of about two hours.
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