Delta Flight 316 to Honolulu was forced to return to Salt Lake City on Feb 27 after an engine issue was detected shortly after takeoff, ensuring a safe landing.

Delta Flight Returns to Salt Lake City Due to Engine Malfunction

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Honolulu was forced to turn back to Salt Lake City on February 27 after the crew detected an engine performance issue shortly after takeoff, as reported by ABC4 Utah.

Emergency Declared After Takeoff

Delta Flight 316, operating a Boeing 767-300, carried 216 passengers, two pilots, and seven flight attendants. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft departed Salt Lake City International Airport at 11:56 AM but encountered engine trouble shortly after leaving the runway. In response, the flight crew promptly declared an emergency with air traffic control and initiated a return to the airport.

Following standard safety protocols, the pilots maneuvered the aircraft west of the airport to burn off excess fuel, ensuring a safe landing weight. Once the necessary fuel reduction was completed, the plane safely landed back in Salt Lake City at 1:31 PM and taxied to the gate without incident.

Passengers Rebooked After Lengthy Delay

Delta’s maintenance teams conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft while airline representatives assisted affected passengers. Travelers were either booked on alternative flights or placed on a rescheduled journey. The replacement flight eventually took off from Salt Lake City at 9:20 PM, arriving in Honolulu at approximately 12:29 AM on February 28—over eight hours behind schedule.

FAA Investigation Underway

The aircraft involved, a Boeing 767-300ER registered as N16065, has been in service for nearly 26 years. Equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4060 engines, it features a seating layout of 26 business class seats, 18 in premium economy, and 172 in economy. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause of the engine malfunction.

Ongoing Safety Concerns for Delta

This incident follows a similar emergency at Salt Lake City International Airport in September 2024, when another Delta flight was forced to return due to cabin pressurization failure. In that case, a Boeing 737-900 bound for Portland had to descend after failing to pressurize above 10,000 feet, causing discomfort among passengers, with reports of ear pain and nosebleeds.

Delta has faced multiple operational setbacks in recent weeks. Earlier this week, a flight returning to Atlanta reported cabin haze, prompting an emergency landing. Last week, another Delta aircraft en route to Sydney was diverted back to Los Angeles after smoke was detected in the galley.

Adding to these concerns, last month saw a catastrophic accident when a Delta jet crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport, flipping onto its back and injuring 21 passengers. Compounding the industry’s safety challenges, an unrelated but tragic midair collision near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army helicopter resulted in the loss of 67 lives—the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001.

With mounting incidents raising fresh concerns about aviation safety, the FAA and airlines face increasing pressure to ensure passenger confidence and operational reliability.

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