Four people were taken to the hospital after a Delta Airlines flight experienced smoke in the cabin, forcing an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal. The flight, carrying 296 passengers from Barcelona to Boston, diverted to Porto after an alert was sounded mid-air.
Approximately 12 passengers on board the Airbus A330 required oxygen during the flight. Upon landing in Porto, medical personnel attended to 14 individuals. Sao Joao Hospital in Porto confirmed that two men were admitted to the emergency department for smoke inhalation, reporting mild respiratory symptoms and stable conditions.
Firefighters, police, and ambulances were mobilized in preparation for the unscheduled landing and subsequent hospital transfers. Normal airport operations were briefly affected.
A Delta spokesperson stated that the flight, Delta flight 251, diverted due to a reported mechanical issue. "The flight landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels as we work to get them to Boston as safely and quickly as possible," the spokesperson said.