Emergency slide FALLS OFF Boeing jet from JFK to LA as Delta flight is forced to turn around after just one hour - in latest crisis to hit aircraft maker
- Delta flight 520 forced to make an emergency landing at JFK on Friday morning
- Right hand emergency slide fell of Boeing 767 jet an hour into its journey to LA
- Crew aboard the jet reported feeling a 'vibration' before the incident
A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft.
The Los Angeles-bound Delta flight 520 was diverted back JFK Airport at around 8.30am.
The plane was an hour into its journey when the freak incident set off an emergency alarm.
Cops are still searching for the right wing inflatable slide, which may be in Jamaica Bay.
No injuries were reported aboard the Boeing 767, which was carrying 176 customers, two pilots and five flight attendants at the time.
A Boeing plane has been forced to make an emergency landing in New York after an emergency slide fell off the aircraft
Boeing has been pushed into crisis mode since a door-plug panel blew off a 737 Max jetliners during an Alaska Airlines flight in January, seen here
Boeing's share prices have plummeted within the past year following a number of incidents
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator records indicate that the plane is 33 years old.
The terror began after crew heard a strange 'non-routine' noise near the right wing and noticed a flight deck indication related to the emergency exit slide.
'As nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive training and followed procedures to return to JFK,' a Delta spokesperson said.
'We appreciate their professionalism and our customers' patience for the delay in their travels.'
The FAA confirmed it is now probing the incident.
'Delta Air Lines Flight 520 returned safely to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 8:35 a.m. local time on Friday, April 26, after the crew reported a vibration,' a spokesman said.
The incident is the latest to hit the aircraft maker following a series of other safety mishaps.
Most notably, the aerospace giant's fleet of 737 Max planes were grounded after a door panel blew out during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.
The disaster wiped $30 billion off Boeing's market value and saw share prices plummet by as much as 20 percent.
A Boeing plane was recently forced to land due to hydraulic fluid spewing from its landing gear area. Now being investigated, the technical failure also occurred in mid-air on a United flight
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has also blasted Boeing for focusing on 'production' instead of 'safety and quality.' Pictured: A missing panel on a 25-year-old Boeing 737-824
Boeing received another blow after FAA Michael Whitaker slammed the manufacturer for focusing on 'production' instead of 'safety and quality'.
His visit to Boeing's facilities came after a series of terrifying incidents aboard the company's jets in recent months.
Incidents have included a wheel falling from an Osaka-bound aircraft early March to a panel blowing off a plane shortly after it took off from San Francisco later that same month.
The beleaguered aircraft maker has also been thrust into the spotlight on Capitol Hill following testimony from whistleblowers who stated they were met with death threats when they tried to flag safety concerns with their superiors.
Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour also told Congress that sections of the 787 Dreamliner jets have not been properly secured.
Boeing recently announced a safety check for the cockpits on its 787s after a LATAM flight flying from Sydney to Auckland took a terrifying plunge after a flight attendant was thought to have accidentally hit switch on pilot's seat and jammed them against jet's controls.
A spokesman for Boeing declined to comment and redirected inquiries to Delta.
