Passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight to New York experienced panic when the aircraft encountered engine issues, leading to an emergency landing in Iceland.
Rohani Santos, a passenger on Flight DL45 from Dublin to JFK, described the harrowing moment when the plane jolted violently during turbulence, with lights flickering. “I genuinely thought I was going to die,” she recounted in a TikTok post after arriving safely in Iceland. “I was literally shaking—felt like I was losing my mind.”
According to Delta, the Boeing 767 faced a technical difficulty soon after takeoff from Dublin, causing the pilot to land at Keflavik Airport in southwestern Iceland. The airline emphasized that passenger safety is their highest priority and that the crew followed all necessary procedures.
The incident prompted the Icelandic Civil Protection Agency to mobilize emergency services around the airport as a precautionary measure.
As the situation escalated, Santos noted that anxiety rose among passengers, especially when cabin screens went black and only instructions for life jackets were issued amid the crew’s initial silence.
Fortunately, she found comfort in a fellow passenger who held her hand during the tumultuous experience. This individual was later recognized as Martin King, a well-known television and radio presenter in Ireland.
Upon landing, a sense of relief swept through the cabin, with passengers applauding. Santos expressed her gratitude towards King, saying, “He really helped me through it.”
Delta confirmed that all 208 passengers and 11 crew members were provided accommodations to continue their journey to JFK by Wednesday evening.
