Delta Air Lines Flight 388 was forced to divert to Tokyo after experiencing hydraulic issues during its journey from Shanghai to Detroit. The Airbus A350-900 was about 140 nautical miles (259 km) north of Tokyo when the crew decided to declare an emergency, landing safely at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) on November 28, 2019. The flight was met by emergency teams upon arrival, and the runway was temporarily closed.
The flight, which typically operates daily between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), had departed at 17:46 local time. With a standard duration of approximately 13 hours, the aircraft was making its way towards the United States when the crew identified the hydraulic problem. Following standard procedure, they chose to divert to the nearest major airport for safety.
In a statement, a Delta Air Lines spokesperson said, “On November 28, the crew of Delta flight 388 followed procedures to divert to Tokyo-Haneda after reporting a mechanical issue while en route from Shanghai to Detroit. The aircraft landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew.”
Emergency Response and Aftermath
Upon landing, the aircraft was immediately attended to by emergency services. The runway remained closed for about 30 minutes while the plane was towed to the gate. Unfortunately, the remainder of the flight was subsequently cancelled, leaving passengers stranded in Japan.
Data from Flightradar24 indicates that the aircraft, registered as N512DN, was nearly seven years old and had remained on the apron overnight. It was repositioned to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on November 29, departing at 23:14 and arriving at 14:26 the following day. Delta then added a corresponding service to Detroit, which arrived at 23:02 on the same day.
The aircraft has since returned to regular service, operating a flight from Detroit to Seoul on November 30 and is set to operate as DL26 from Seoul to Atlanta on December 1.
Aircraft Specifications and Safety Measures
The Airbus A350-900 involved in this incident, with serial number 267, took its first test flight in December 2018 under French registration F-WZGE. It features a three-class layout with 32 Business, 48 Premium Economy, and 226 Economy class seats. The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 engines and was delivered to Delta in January 2019.
Hydraulic issues in the Airbus A350 are uncommon but can lead to uncommanded movements of flight surfaces, prompting quick action from flight crews. This incident highlights the airline’s commitment to safety, as the decision to divert to Japan allowed for a thorough inspection of the aircraft.
Delta Air Lines operates a fleet of 38 A350-900 aircraft, with an additional six on order, and plans to incorporate the larger A350-1000 model by 2026.
