On Sunday, a Delta Airlines flight departing from Salt Lake City, Utah experienced pressurization issues at an altitude of 10,000 feet, causing several passengers to suffer from ruptured eardrums and bloody noses. One passenger, Jaci Purser, described a sharp pain in her ear, followed by bleeding. She reported feeling her ear pop due to the cabin pressure, then bubble.
The Boeing aircraft, carrying 140 passengers, was headed to Portland, Oregon. According to a spokesperson for the airline, the plane was unable to pressurize above 10,000 feet and the oxygen masks did not deploy. Caryn Allen, another passenger on the flight, recounted seeing her husband covering his ears and leaning forward. She also noticed a man in the row behind her with a severe bloody nose, with fellow passengers attempting to assist him.
Passengers also reported feeling the plane dip before it was redirected back to Salt Lake International Airport. Upon landing, at least 10 individuals required medical evaluation or treatment, as confirmed by the airline. However, no serious injuries were reported.
Delta Airlines issued an apology to its customers for the incident on flight 1203 on September 15. The airline’s spokesperson stated, “The flight crew followed procedures to return to SLC where our teams on the ground supported our customers with their immediate needs.”
Following the incident, passengers were accommodated on another flight. Delta technicians addressed and resolved the pressurization issue on the aircraft. The plane was returned to service the following day.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that the pressurization issue is currently under investigation.