A Delta Airlines flight was forced to return to Salt Lake City minutes after take off when passengers began experiencing nosebleeds and ear pain due to a cabin pressurisation issue.
The Boeing 737-900, which departed at approximately 8:30 a.m., was enroute to Portland International Airport when the incident occurred.
Passengers reported feeling intense pressure in their noses and eardrums shortly after the plane began its ascent. Jaci Purser, one of the passengers, described the sensation as being stabbed in the ear, followed by her ear popping and bubbling. “I grabbed my ear, and I pulled my hand back, and there was blood on it,” she told KSL TV.
The aircraft began to circle the Salt Lake City area before safely returning to the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that Delta reported a possible pressurisation issue as the plane reached 10,000 feet and is currently investigating the incident.
Despite the severity of the situation, passengers claimed that Delta did not inform them about the pressurisation issues or the reason for the abrupt return. In a statement to KSL TV, Delta acknowledged the pressurisation problem but did not specify the cause.
Upon landing, paramedics attended to the injured passengers, with individuals being evaluated on-site. Some passengers may have sought additional medical treatment independently after disembarking.
Delta has since returned the aircraft to service after technicians addressed the pressurisation issue. The airline has apologised to the affected passengers and is cooperating with the FAA’s ongoing investigation