A Delta Airlines flight had to make an emergency return to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after an emergency exit slide separated from the plane.
Flight 520, a Boeing 767 with 176 passengers and seven crew members, was headed to Los Angeles from JFK International Airport Friday morning.
According to the FAA, the crew reported feeling a vibration. They also saw an indicator light related to the right-wing emergency exit and heard a sound coming from that area.
It was later determined that the emergency exit slide had fallen off the plane.
"As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK. We appreciate their professionalism and our customers' patience for the delay in their travels," Delta said in a statement. "After the aircraft had safely landed and proceeded to a gate, it was observed that the emergency slide had separated from the aircraft. Delta is fully supporting retrieval efforts and will fully cooperate in investigations."
The plane is out of service and is being evaluated.
The passengers were able to continue their travels on another plane.
