A Delta flight had to turn around while heading to Beijing, China due to an unfortunate in-flight pooping incident.
On Tuesday, Delta Flight 229 was just about to make its nine-hour journey from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport when one passenger presented a ‘highly disruptive’ condition involving diarrhea. The crew and the captain decided it would be best if the flight was re-routed back to Detroit.
Upon returning to the airport, the passenger was removed and the plane crew worked to get the aircraft cleaned up and re-stocked. One passenger, Preston Rutherford, said that the whole experience was crazy. He heard one crew member say, “This has never happened.”
Fortunately, the flight was able to take off again and complete its journey. Still, the unexpected diversion put the flight four and a half hours behind schedule.
In situations like this, Delta has a procedure in place that they strictly adhere to. That is to say, the decision to turn around and land was made with the airline’s commitment to passenger safety in forefront of the minds of all involved.
Although incidents of this sort are, thankfully, quite rare, still, it is important for all passengers to understand the seriousness of health matters while in flight. Any health issues or unusually disruptive behavior should be brought to the attention of the cabin crew as soon as possible so they can take all the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.