Delta Connection flight diverts due to cabin pressure loss

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Airbus A380 | Airbus

By Sky Industry News

Dec 1, 2024

A Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft was forced to divert to Albany, New York, after experiencing a loss of cabin pressure during its flight from Providence, Rhode Island, to Detroit, Michigan. The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 27th, when the SkyWest Airlines-operated flight had to make an emergency landing at Albany International Airport.

The flight took off at 5:38 local time and was airborne for 55 minutes before safely landing in Albany at 6:33. Originally planned as a 615-mile journey, the diversion reduced the distance flown to just 280 miles. The aircraft encountered the pressurization issue approximately 30 nautical miles southeast of Albany while cruising at an altitude of 30,000 feet.

After reaching cruising altitude only briefly, the crew initiated an emergency descent procedure, bringing the aircraft down to 10,000 feet within four and a half minutes. During this time, the aircraft declared an emergency and communicated with air traffic control using transponder code 7700. The plane remained at this lower altitude for around twenty minutes before executing two hold patterns and ultimately descending safely onto runway 19.

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The affected aircraft is identified as N689CA—a Bombardier CRJ-900 delivered to Delta Air Lines in October 2007. This particular jetliner has logged approximately 34,360 flight hours and completed around 25,000 flight cycles since it was built over seventeen years ago. Following its unscheduled stop in Albany for about eleven hours, the plane proceeded to Detroit for further maintenance checks.

In response to the situation, Delta dispatched a replacement Embraer ERJ-175 (registration N300SY) to transport passengers onward to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport with a delay of nine and a half hours.

"Simple Flying has contacted the airline for a statement."

Commercial jetliners like the CRJ-900 are designed with pressurization systems that maintain cabin pressure equivalent to an altitude of roughly 6,000 feet by using engine-sourced air. These systems ensure passenger comfort by regulating temperature and moisture levels while preventing decompression-related health issues. A malfunction in these systems often necessitates flights either remaining below certain altitudes or being canceled altogether.