LONDON- A Delta Air Lines (DL) flight en route from London Heathrow (LHR) to Detroit (DTW) was forced to return shortly after takeoff due to a cracked cockpit windscreen on June 6, 2025.
The Airbus A330-200 aircraft, operating as flight DL17, declared a general emergency and safely landed at London Heathrow just under an hour after departure, Airlive reported.
Delta Flight Emergency Landing at London
Delta Air Lines flight DL17 departed from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) at 11:39 BST on June 6, 2025, bound for Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
The flight, operated by a 20.8-year-old Airbus A330-200, registered as N854NW, was scheduled to cover a route lasting approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes.
However, shortly after departure, while climbing through 26,000 feet, the flight crew detected a crack in the aircraft’s front windscreen. In response, the pilots halted the climb, issued a general emergency (squawk 7700), and initiated a turnback to Heathrow.
Safety procedures were followed promptly, ensuring a coordinated response with air traffic control.
The aircraft landed safely on runway 27R at LHR just 57 minutes after takeoff. Emergency response vehicles were deployed to meet the aircraft on arrival. The aircraft vacated the runway and taxied under its own power to Terminal 3, with no injuries reported among passengers or crew.
The Airbus A330-200 involved is part of Delta’s long-haul fleet and was operating a regularly scheduled transatlantic flight. A cracked windscreen is considered a serious but manageable event, often resulting in precautionary landings to prevent escalation.
Airport emergency services were on standby as per protocol, though their assistance was not required post-landing.
Similar Incidents
A Singapore Airlines (SQ) Boeing 777-300ER en route from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) was forced to divert to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) after a windshield crack was detected mid-flight.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2024, aboard flight SQ636, which was carrying 249 passengers and 17 crew members. The aircraft involved, registered as 9V-SWI, landed safely in Taipei.
Flight SQ636, operated by Singapore Airlines, departed from Singapore (SIN) at 11:16 PM local time, heading for Tokyo Haneda (HND). Midway through the journey, while cruising at 36,000 feet, the flight crew identified a crack in the aircraft’s windshield and initiated a diversion to Taipei (TPE).
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which is 17.7 years old, is part of the airline’s long-haul fleet, frequently used for high-capacity Asia-Pacific routes. The flight landed safely at Taipei Taoyuan Airport at approximately 3:54 AM local time. No injuries were reported.
Following the incident, Singapore Airlines provided accommodation to all affected passengers. An alternative aircraft—another Boeing 777, registered as 9V-SWL—was dispatched as flight SQ9876 to continue the journey to Tokyo Haneda.
In June 2024, a Boeing 787 operating flight VS41 from London Heathrow (LHR) to San Francisco (SFO) suffered a cracked windshield while flying over the North Atlantic. Despite severe cold (-58°C) at 38,000 feet, no decompression occurred. The crack was limited to the outer nonstructural layer.
In February 2024, Flight 94 from New York JFK to Madrid (MAD) diverted to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) after a windshield crack was reported. The aircraft, a Boeing 777-200, made an emergency landing following an Alert 2 call.
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