AUSTIN (KXAN) A Delta Air Lines flight heading to Texas encountered a complication involving a wing flap, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the airline.
Flight 1893, operated by Delta, left Orlando on Tuesday for its usual route to Austin. However, before the flight landed, passengers noticed something alarming on the wing.
“While cruising at around 12,000 feet, we saw that part of the wing was broken and visibly separated,” shared Shanila Arif, a passenger on the flight, with local affiliate KXAN.
Arif provided KXAN with video footage that seemed to show a piece of the left wing flap coming loose during the journey, describing it as “a serious safety event.”
According to a statement acquired by KXAN, Delta Air Lines acknowledged the flap issue but reported that the plane landed without any problems at its scheduled destination.
“After flight DL 1893 arrived safely in Austin without any complications, it was noted that a segment of the left wing’s flap was not properly positioned,” a Delta representative stated.
A wing flap, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, is a piece of the wing designed to be pivoted to adjust the “lift and drag” of an aircraft. Flaps can be used for several purposes, including to help adjust the pitch of the aircraft, the landing speed, the angle of descent, or produce lift during takeoff, according to the FAA.
Delta, in its statement, did not provide a possible reason for the wing flap’s detachment.
The plane a Boeing 737 carryingsix crew members and 62 customers was taken out of service for maintenance, according to the airline.
”We apologize to our customers for their experience as nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers,” a Delta spokesperson said.
