Passengers aboard a Delta flight bound for New York found themselves stranded on a Portuguese island for 12 hours, where they claim they were left in a secluded part of the airport and had to beg for food.
The flight, carrying 200 people from Ghana, was diverted to Lajes Airport due to a mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system, according to a spokesperson for Delta. Nana Asante-Smith, one of the passengers, took to Facebook to express her frustration, stating that they were "abandoned by Delta and treated like encroaching roaches by airport representatives on Terceira Islands." She accused both Delta and the airport representatives of having a "reckless disregard for human life and well-being."
Upon arrival at the airport, Asante-Smith explained that the passengers were brought to a partitioned section because they did not have the necessary visas to enter Portugal. While the crew was taken to a hotel, the passengers were instructed to remain and contact Delta for further information.
Asante-Smith claimed that their attempts to reach out to Delta were unsuccessful, leaving them in the dark about the situation. The airport representatives assured them that they would be provided with a meal and that a plane from Boston would arrive to pick them up in a few hours.
However, at around 11:30 a.m., Asante-Smith discovered that they would no longer be fed. According to an airport representative, Delta had informed them that the passengers had already eaten before landing. Asante-Smith stated that they had no other access to food. Eventually, a small cafe opened, allowing those with credit cards to purchase food. After pleading for sustenance, the passengers were given ham sandwiches, juice boxes, and crackers. Asante-Smith noted that this was problematic for those with dietary restrictions, particularly Muslims who do not consume pork.
Throughout the ordeal, the passengers were left scrambling for information. Some received messages from Delta representatives that appeared to be copied and pasted, while others were told that a rescue plane was on its way. Asante-Smith described how the elderly, pregnant women, and children became restless, frustrated, and confused. When they sought more information from airport staff, they were told not to "start a revolution" and to be grateful for a second chance at life.
Finally, at around 6 p.m., a flight arrived at Lajes Airport and transported the passengers to John F. Kennedy International Airport. However, upon arrival in New York, the frustrated passengers attempted to voice their complaints to Delta representatives, only to be told that the airline was overwhelmed. Ghanaian rapper Sakordie, who was also on the flight, expressed his disappointment, stating that Delta communicated poorly and failed to update them on the situation.
In response to the incident, a Delta spokesperson stated that the 215 passengers were provided with meals and waited for nearly 12 hours for another aircraft to arrive from Lisbon. The spokesperson explained that the passengers' bags were sent on their original aircraft to JFK, as the second plane had limited landing time in Terceira. When asked about the overwhelmed Delta personnel in New York, the spokesperson attributed it to poor weather conditions on the East Coast, which resulted in an influx of requests.
Asante-Smith mentioned that she received a $400 voucher and an email about a full ticket refund, but she has yet to receive the money. Furthermore, as of Monday morning, she still had not received her bags. The Post reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment, but there has been no response at this time.
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