A Delta Air Lines international flight was forced to divert just 40 minutes after takeoff when a fire broke out in one of its galleys, officials confirmed.
The Incident
The fire occurred on September 23 aboard Delta flight DL-55, traveling from Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta.
- Crew members noticed a “small-scale fire” inside one of the galley ovens.
- The blaze was caused by food debris on the oven’s heating element, according to USA TODAY.
- Though the fire was contained to the oven, pilots diverted the aircraft to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, as a precaution.
Upon landing, maintenance crews inspected the aircraft and confirmed there was no damage. Importantly, no passengers or crew were injured.
What Caused the Fire?
The precise cause is still under investigation, but industry experts note several common culprits for galley fires:
- Fat or food residue inside ovens
- Paper waste from catering supplies
- Equipment malfunctions
Flight attendants are well-trained for such emergencies. According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo (PYOK):
“Flight attendants have annual refresher training to fight various fire scenarios onboard a plane, and galley oven fires are nearly always covered. In most cases, the fire can be contained by isolating the electrical power to the oven.”
If visible flames appear, cabin crew may:
- Use a halon extinguisher inside the oven
- Remove debris with firefighting gloves and submerge it in water
What Happened Next?
After the diversion, passengers were stranded in Accra overnight, with Delta providing accommodations.
Two days later, on Sept. 25, the flight successfully completed its journey to Atlanta.
Delta’s Response
Delta spokesperson Berj Alexanian praised the crew’s quick actions:
“As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew, the flight crew followed procedures and safely diverted to the nearest international airport. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans and we thank them for their patience.”
