Delta Air Lines Apologizes for Serving Spoiled Food on Flight to Amsterdam
Delta Air Lines has issued an apology following an incident where spoiled food was served onboard a flight from Detroit to Amsterdam. The flight, which took off late Tuesday night, had to divert to New York City early Wednesday morning after discovering the compromised inflight meals.
The affected flight, DL136, was en route from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) with 277 passengers aboard. After departing at 22:51 on Tuesday, the Airbus A330-300 had been airborne for about four hours, reaching northern Newfoundland, when the issue with the food was identified. Following consultation with medical professionals, the decision was made to divert to New York's JFK Airport, where the flight landed safely at 03:59.
Upon landing, 14 passengers and 10 crew members were treated by emergency responders, though none required hospitalization. The exact number of individuals who consumed the spoiled food remains unclear. Delta confirmed the incident in a statement, emphasizing that such occurrences are not representative of their standard service and apologizing for the inconvenience and delay caused to the passengers.
The spoilage issue likely stemmed from the handling and storage of hot meals, which require strict time limits and temperature controls. Meals are typically prepared to reach a core temperature of around 149 degrees Fahrenheit, then chilled and barcoded. Despite these precautions, meals can be stored frozen for up to 30 days, potentially leading to issues if not properly managed.
Following the discovery, Delta's Food Safety team launched an investigation, isolating the product and engaging suppliers to prevent future incidents. The affected flight was canceled, and passengers were rebooked on alternate flights from JFK to their final destinations. The aircraft involved, registered as N816NW, was grounded at JFK for about 16 hours before being ferried to Amsterdam.
The incident highlights the importance of rigorous food safety protocols in the airline industry, especially given the critical role that inflight meals play in the overall passenger experience. Delta's quick response and ongoing investigation aim to ensure such issues are swiftly addressed and mitigated in the future.