By Mohamed Attia
A Boeing 767-300ER operated by Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines from Milan to New York was significantly damaged from severe turbulence and hailstorm on Monday. The incident prompted the pilots to declare an emergency and divert to Rome.
According to FlightAware data, the aircraft, N189DN, was operating DL185 to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). The wide body plane pushed back from gate B51 at 12:29, one minute earlier than scheduled. After taxiing for around 20 minutes, the aircraft took off from runway 35R at 12:52 and climbed to 4,500 feet. N189DN then turned west and reached an altitude of 17,000 feet before banking south and climbing to 23,000 feet, remaining at that altitude for approximately two minutes.
According to the Aviation Herald, the crew stopped climbing at 23,000 feet and rerouted to Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO). At around 13:05, the aircraft was still headed south and descended to 20,000 feet. Once over the Ligurian Sea, the 767 turned southeast toward Rome. As the jet flew back over land, the pilots descended and began their final approach.
N189DN landed safely on runway 16R without further incident, according to The Aviation Herald. Data indicates that the aircraft landed at 13:55 and arrived at the gate at 14:05, just over an hour after departing from Milan. No injuries were reported.
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