A Delta Airlines flight carrying 149 passengers and six crew members was forced to return to Mexico City International Airport (AICM) on Monday, 7 April 2025, after a serious technical failure was reported shortly after takeoff.
Delta Airlines DAL576 flight failure: Here’s everything we know
The flight, identified as DAL576, was en route to Atlanta, United States, when the crew declared an emergency.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-832, registered as N399DA.
According to reports, the plane experienced a failure in its navigation systems, which are essential for guiding the aircraft through its planned route.
This malfunction prompted the pilots to enter into a holding pattern—a safety maneuver where the plane circles in the air until it’s safe to land.
For approximately one hour and 26 minutes, the aircraft circled over Mexico City and surrounding municipalities at varying altitudes between 4,000 and 8,000 meters.
This allowed the crew to manage the situation, communicate with air traffic control, and prepare for a safe return.
At 13:20 local time (21:20 SAST), the plane safely landed on runway 23L at AICM. It was then towed to a secure location where all passengers and crew disembarked without injury.
In line with emergency procedures, operations on runway 23L were temporarily suspended between 12:56 and 13:33 local time (20:56 and 21:33 SAST).
This brief shutdown caused delays for other incoming and outgoing flights, though normal operations resumed shortly after the affected Delta aircraft was safely moved.
The passengers from Flight DAL576 were offered assistance. Some were booked on alternate flights with different airlines, while others were accommodated at hotels near the airport.
Delta Airlines has since confirmed that the aircraft will resume service as flight DAL9866, scheduled to depart on Tuesday, 8 April 2025, at 17:55 local time (01:55 SAST on Wednesday, 9 April).
Delta has yet to officially confirm the exact nature of the failure, but aviation observers have pointed to a navigation system malfunction as the likely cause.
Authorities at AICM and Delta Airlines continue to investigate the matter, following standard post-incident procedures. For now, no injuries were reported, and all passengers have been accounted for.
