A trans-Atlantic Delta flight was forced to abandon its journey when a passenger created a “biohazard” due to a terrible bout of diarrhea, according to the pilot.
Delta flight DL194 had departed Georgia on Friday, September 1, on its way to Barcelona, and was over Virginia when the pilot decided to turn around, according to the Daily Mail.
The pilot explained why in a text message to Air Traffic Control: “Divert to ATL — passenger diarrhea all over aircraft — biohazard.”
An aviation enthusiast shared online an audio transmission between the pilots and air-traffic control.
“This is a biohazard issue,” a pilot can be heard saying. “We’ve had a passenger who’s had diarrhea all the way through the airplane, so they want us to come back to Atlanta.”
A Delta Airlines Airbus A350 turned around back to Atlanta Friday night because of diarrhea throughout the airplane from a passenger and it’s a biohazard.
The FAA flight strip for DL194 was posted to Reddit (xStang05x) Also a passenger posted here asking why her son’s… pic.twitter.com/VWbkB47wF1
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 3, 2023
A social media user responded to the tweet above to say their partner was on the flight and shared the initial remedy that apparently had little effect in masking the odor.
“My partner was on that flight! It was pretty bad. It was dribbled down the aisle, smelled horrible,” the person said. “The vanilla scented disinfectant used on it only made it smell like vanilla s***. After the plane landed, it was thoroughly cleaned. They didn’t leave until around 2:30 am.”
My partner was on that flight! It was pretty bad. It was dribbled down the aisle, smelled horrible. The vanilla scented disinfectant used on it only made it smell like vanilla s***. After the plane landed, it was thoroughly cleaned. They didn’t leave until around 2:30 am
— Dee W (@Woodyssea) September 4, 2023
Another social media user said he was on the flight and explained that once they returned to Atlanta, Delta “ripped out the carpet” and replaced it with new carpet.
“Both my wife and I were on the flight. It was a mess,” he tweeted. “The pilots made the right decision to turn around. The ground crew ripped out the carpet and put new in. Considering the circumstances, the ground crew did a great job, along the attendants and the pilots.”
Both my wife and I were on the flight. It was a mess. The pilots made the right decision to turn around. The ground crew ripped out the carpet and put new in. Considering the circumstances, the ground crew did a great job, along the attendants and the pilots.
— John Hurdt (@john_hurdt) September 4, 2023
Social media users couldn’t help themselves, responding with hilarity to a situation that was certainly not funny to those onboard.
Here’s a quick sampling of those responses, as seen on X:
And so I’m left with a question…
How much shit does it take to turn a A350 around?— Colin (@ColinBossey) September 4, 2023
DL194, you’re number 2 for landing.
— Irish Dave (@iamirishdave) September 4, 2023
Well that’s crappy. (Am I the first one to post that?)
— Daniel Sonntag (@dwsonntag) September 5, 2023
Upon landing. pic.twitter.com/HhRMaCIGn0
— Daniel Stuart Taylor (@DanielSGTaylor) September 4, 2023
“THAT SMELL IS NOT HUMAN!” pic.twitter.com/da1H4ecOSA
— Ryan (@TakeAKnee87) September 4, 2023
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