A Delta Air Lines flight from Barcelona to Boston made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal, on September 27, after smoke was reported inside the cabin. Flight DL251, an Airbus A330, diverted to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport after the airline reported a mechanical issue.
The plane landed safely at around 5:45 pm local time, about two and a half hours after leaving Barcelona. Eight passengers were treated on the tarmac, while three others were taken to hospital for further treatment.
Portuguese emergency officials confirmed that smoke in the cabin prompted the forced landing. The exact cause of the smoke has not yet been disclosed.
Indeed, emergency landings can turn routine flights into tense situations within minutes, putting crews’ training and quick decision-making to the test. Click through to look back at some of the most dramatic emergency landings in aviation history.