LAGOS, Nigeria—A Delta Air Lines flight from Lagos to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency diversion earlier this week after a small fire broke out in the aircraft’s galley oven.
Flight DL055, an Airbus A330-200, departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (LOS) in Lagos on Tuesday, September 23, heading for its nearly 12-hour journey to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). However, the long-haul flight was quickly interrupted when the cabin crew detected an issue with a galley oven.
Quick Action Above the Atlantic
A spokesperson for the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, confirmed that the incident was caused by a fire that ignited inside one of the aircraft’s ovens. The fire, which was reportedly due to food debris on the heating element, was quickly contained by the flight crew.
Despite the fire being small and swiftly put out, the pilots followed stringent safety protocols and declared an emergency, making the decision to divert to the nearest suitable international airport.
The aircraft was safely brought to Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra, Ghana, landing approximately 40 minutes after takeoff. Crucially, the airline confirmed that there were no injuries among the 188 passengers and 13 crew members (four pilots and nine flight attendants) on board.
Two-Day Delay and Flight Chaos
The unexpected diversion created a logistical challenge for the airline and a major delay for the travelers.
Airline officials stated that by the time the emergency situation was fully resolved and the aircraft was inspected in Accra, the flight crew had exceeded their mandatory duty time limits. Strict regulations regarding crew rest meant they were unable to continue the journey immediately.
Delta Air Lines quickly moved to minimize the disruption:
- Stranded Passengers: Passengers were provided with accommodations in Accra. Some were immediately rebooked on an Accra-New York service that same evening.
- Resumption: Delta Flight DL055 finally departed Accra for Atlanta on Thursday, September 25, at approximately 12:00hrs local time—a delay of roughly two days.
- Cancellations: The incident also led to the cancellation of the subsequent inbound flight from Atlanta to Lagos (ATL-LOS) scheduled for Thursday, September 25. Affected passengers were rebooked on connecting flights with partner airlines, including Air France, British Airways, KLM, and Lufthansa, demonstrating the wide-ranging ripple effect of the initial emergency.
A Delta Air Lines spokesperson apologized for the travel disruption, reiterating that the safety of customers and crew was the highest priority, and praising the flight crew for executing their emergency procedures flawlessly.
Conclusion
This incident, while disruptive to travel plans, serves as a powerful testament to the effectiveness of modern aviation safety training. The Delta crew’s swift and textbook reaction to a contained fire ensured the safety of everyone on board, highlighting the importance of procedure over profit when an emergency occurs mid-air.
Affiliate Disclosure
This article discusses an aviation incident involving Delta Air Lines and is not affiliated with any specific airline or aviation authority.
Disclaimer
The details of this incident are based on information released by the airline and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as of September 2025. Aviation incidents are subject to ongoing investigation by relevant authorities. The travel disruption and rebooking details are based on published reports and may not reflect the experience of every individual passenger.
