BOSTON, MA – A Delta Airlines flight bound for Rome from Boston was forced to make an unexpected return mid-flight over the Atlantic Ocean due to a lightning strike on Sunday. This information was confirmed by both the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incident occurred shortly after Delta Flight 112 took off from Logan International Airport, while the aircraft was already over the Atlantic Ocean. The flight was initially scheduled to be a seven-hour journey to Rome, according to data from Flightradar24.
The decision to reroute the flight back to Logan Airport was made as a precautionary measure after the lightning encounter, as stated by a Delta spokesperson via email. The Airbus A330 landed safely at around 7:20 p.m., with fire trucks seen surrounding the aircraft on the tarmac, as observed by WCVB.
Boston Emergency Medical Services confirmed that there were no medical emergencies among the passengers or crew members following the incident. The Delta spokesperson further reassured that the flight landed without any additional complications.
The spokesperson also stated, “We are making efforts to ensure our customers reach their final destination as soon as possible, and we regret the delay in their travel. The safety of our customers and staff is Delta’s topmost priority.”
The FAA has initiated an investigation into the incident. However, the agency highlighted that its regulations require commercial aircraft to be built to withstand lightning strikes.