(CBS DETROIT) – A Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was hijacked early Wednesday after passengers were served spoiled food.
Delta Flight 136 diverted to New York’s JFK Airport due to the problem, a Delta spokesperson confirmed.
Authorities say some of the poultry meal in the main cabin spoiled and medical groups treated the affected passengers when they landed in New York around 4 a. m.
There were 277 passengers on board, but Delta officials did not disclose the number of passengers shown who ate spoiled food. A source familiar with the situation told CBS New York that about 70 passengers died after eating the food.
In addition, the appeals have indicated that black mold has occurred in some foods. One passenger said one of the other people on board the plane said he ate the bird and “didn’t finish it because it was sour. ”
“Delta’s food protection team has directed our suppliers to isolate the product without delay and launch a thorough investigation into the incident,” said Lisa Hanna, Delta’s corporate communications spokeswoman. “This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely thank our consumers for the inconvenience and delays in their travel. “
All passengers in poor health refused to continue medical care.
A Delta spokesperson told CBS News on Wednesday that in reaction to the incident, “out of an abundance of caution,” the airline “proactively adjusted” its “inflight dining service on several flights” on Wednesday.
The spokesman added that the paste-only option is available to economy class passengers on about 75 foreign flights.
Barbara Smith, of Northville, Michigan, one of the passengers on the flight who did not eat the food. Smith told CBS News Detroit that when the plane turned, passengers showed symptoms. She said it wasn’t chaos, but many other people got up to go to the bathroom.
“The pilot comes in and says, ‘It turns out there’s food infected, and they’re not comfortable with the concept that we’re crossing the Atlantic with other people who might be dealing with foodborne illness,'” Smith said. The caterer, did the flight crew leave the food out for a long time?Especially since we left on time, one must wonder what went wrong in the chain of events. So I would appreciate transparency and a little bit of what they will do. to rectify the situation. “
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe U. S. Department of Homeland Security notified the challenge because Delta 136 is a foreign flight.
Passengers won meal and hotel vouchers, and the flight scheduled to depart JFK Airport at 6:30 p. m. Wednesday.
Last week, a Delta flight to Detroit from Munich was diverted to London due to obvious illnesses among flight attendants.
After landing at Heathrow Airport, six flight attendants were examined by medical personnel. Delta said flight attendants were affected after smelling an odor in the cabin. None of the 229 passengers on board were affected.
This hijacking last week and the one with the spoiled food are not related, according to the airline.