Panic as oven fire forces Delta Lagos-Atlanta flight diversion

Delta plane

A Delta Airlines flight from Lagos to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency diversion to Accra, Ghana, after a fire broke out in the aircraft’s oven, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, aboard Flight DL055, which had departed from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, en route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

According to NCAA spokesperson Michael Achinugu, the fire was quickly contained and posed no danger to passengers or crew. However, the unscheduled landing in Accra disrupted the flight schedule, as the crew exceeded their permitted duty time and could not continue the journey as planned.

Delta Airlines immediately activated contingency plans to manage the disruption. Some passengers were rebooked on the airline’s Accra-New York service on the same evening, while others were re-accommodated the following night. Punch