“Brain Fog” Costs Delta Air Lines $120K After Flight Attendant Deploys Emergency Slide

A Delta Air Lines flight attendant’s moment of “brain fog” has cost the airline an estimated US$70,000 (NZ$121,000)after the accidental deployment of an emergency slide on a Pittsburgh-to-Salt Lake City flight.

The incident happened aboard an Airbus A220-300 as the crew prepared for departure. The left-hand slide was mistakenly activated, trapping passengers on board until engineers could remove it. The mistake caused hours of delays and forced several travellers to miss connecting flights, with some needing overnight accommodation.

According to reports, the crew member — a 26-year veteran — was “quite flustered” and apologetic after the blunder.

Such accidents are costly: replacing and reinstalling a slide can run between US$50,000 and US$70,000, not including schedule disruptions.

It’s not Delta’s first slide mishap. In 2024, another slide deployed accidentally while a Boeing 767 was being serviced at London Gatwick. Other airlines, including British Airways, have faced similar incidents — one involving a new flight attendant who triggered the slide on their first day.