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A Delta flight from JFK to Los Angeles had more than its share of difficulties on Saturday. First the plane made an unscheduled stop in Utah then the air slide deploys, injuring a crew member.

The plane was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Utah on Saturday due to technical difficulties with the temperature instrument. Little did the passengers and crew know that this was just the beginning of a series of unfortunate incidents.

Shortly after the aircraft landed in Salt Lake City, a crew member was unexpectedly struck by an "exploding" air slide. The crew member was immediately taken to the hospital for medical attention. It was an unexpected twist to an already eventful journey.

The B767-300, carrying 168 passengers, had been en route to LAX when the pilot announced the need for an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. The cause was traced back to a malfunctioning temperature instrument in the backup system, which was crucial for dealing with potential icing conditions.

Air slide explodes and deploys

After a smooth landing, the passengers were asked to deplane while the issue was addressed. Thankfully, the temperature instrument was fixed, and at around 1 p.m. local time, the plane was deemed ready to resume the journey.

Just when the passengers reboarded the aircraft, chaos ensued.

An inflatable slide at the rear of the plane accidentally deployed inside the cabin while the plane was still at the gate. The slide struck a Delta crew member, who had to be rushed to the hospital once again. Witnesses described the incident as the slide "exploding" inside the plane, causing panic and confusion among the passengers.

According to sources, the crew had armed a rear door, and when the slide accidentally deployed, it forcefully ejected a panel, hitting the crew member "like an airbag" in a car accident. 

It is alleged that the slide had been inadvertently activated by the plane's catering crew.

Passengers disembarked from the plane visibly shaken and upset by the series of events they had witnessed. Despite the ordeal, the airline made efforts to accommodate the passengers on a secondary aircraft scheduled to depart for Los Angeles at 4 p.m. local time.

Delta says safety first

A Delta spokesperson addressed the incidents in a statement, explaining that the unscheduled landing was due to a maintenance issue. Regarding the accidental deployment of the air slide, the spokesperson apologized for the delay and inconvenience caused to the passengers. 

The airline reassured them that their priority was the safety of their customers and employees.

To compensate for the inconvenience, Delta provided passengers with 7,500 miles as a gesture of goodwill. Meanwhile, the injured crew member was reported to have been checked out and discharged from the hospital, alleviating concerns 

It was clarified by a Delta source that the unscheduled landing in Utah was not officially declared as an emergency landing, highlighting the unexpected nature of the events that unfolded during the flight.