A Delta Air Lines long haul flight operating from Prague to New York has aborted the flight after takeoff and made a precautionary return to Václav Havel Airport (PRG) Prague earlier today.
Footage and ATC recording from PRG indicates the cause of the unscheduled return was an engine failure. The ATC recording indicates that the aircraft advised PRG Tower of the issue with its engine just after takeoff, as the flight was being handed over to radar control.
The flight did not formally declare an emergency with squawk code 7700 in this instance.
Delta Air Lines flight DL79 Prague – New York
Delta Air Lines flight DL79, a Boeing 767-300ER operating the transatlantic service from Prague to New York, had made a departure out of Václav Havel Airport (PRG) at 12:31 CEST today.
The flight then climbed to 2,900 feet before making a circuit for a precautionary return to PRG, landing at just after 13:00 CEST.
It is understood that emergency services assets were on hand to greet the flight on its return.
As per data from Planespotters.net, N175DN, the aircraft that was operating the flight is 33.2 years old at the time of writing.
The aircraft was delivered new to Delta Air Lines back in July 1990. It is understood that the aircraft will be stored in Prague until further notice until repairs or a new engine can be sought.
This is a developing story.
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