A Scots man has slammed "shambolic" Delta Airlines and claims passengers were abandoned by staff after a terrifying 'plane fire' on Friday morning.
The DAL209 flight from Edinburgh to New York was forced to make an emergency landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport shortly after takeoff following a "mechanical issue" with the aircraft.
Terrified passengers were in tears as 'flames' could be seen coming from the wing of the plane and they were quickly evacuated as fire crews surrounded the flight.
But a passenger told the Record he felt abandoned by the airline after the incident as passengers waited three hours in the airport before being put on buses to the Courtyard by Marriott in Edinburgh.
Matthew Sommerville, from Cumbernauld, was still waiting to be checked into a room with his wife ands kids on Friday evening.
He claimed no official representative from Delta was at the hotel and said they had not received any communication on travel plans. Delta insist local leadership were standing by in the Edinburgh area as passengers were moved to hotels.
The 54-year-old told the Record: "It is an absolute shambles and is outrageous the way we have been treated after that terrifying incident. It is just starting to dawn on everyone what we have been through.
"We spent three hours waiting in the airport with no information and then we were allowed back onto the plane to get our belongings.
"We were ushered outside and four buses were waiting. There was no information given.
"The drivers didn't know what was going on. We got to the hotel but they were not prepared for over 200 guests and there was no official representative for Delta there.
"This will take hours to get us all checked in. Apparently the hotel only knew we were all coming 20 minutes before our arrival so were not prepared.
"I am flabbergasted at the way we have been treated by Delta after what we went through. It was a terrifying incident. Then to have been treated this way by Delta in unforgivable."
Matthew said there had been no communication from Delta following the incident and he was unaware of ongoing travel plans as he waited with his family in the hotel for a bed for the night.
Children were left crying in the hotel lobby as exhausted passengers waited to be checked in.
The trip to New York, meant to be a celebration for Matthew's retirement, has quickly turned into a nightmare.
He added: "I am a frequent flyer so as soon as we got on the plane I felt like something wasn't right - it felt wrong. The plane started shaking like mad and then the cabin crew were running about.
"The captain was trying to speak but the air pressure had dropped so we couldn't hear the tannoy announcement. We managed to land safely and were taken off the plane pretty much immediately."
A spokesperson from Delta Airlines, approached by the Record about Matthew's claimsinsisted passengers were being looked after.
The spokesperson said: “Delta flight 209 from Edinburgh to New York-JFK safely diverted to Glasgow Prestwick Airport after a mechanical issue with one of the aircraft's two engines.
"We apologise to our customers for this inconvenience and are working to get them to their final destinations via Edinburgh. Before the flight’s scheduled continuation tomorrow morning, Delta is arranging ground transportation, meals and hotels for customers.
"In addition, all customers are receiving further contact from our Customer Care team expressing our apologies."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were requested at 11.23am on Friday, 10 February to assist our fire service partners at Prestwick Airport.
"Operations Control mobilised four appliances to the site. Crews are no longer at the scene and the last appliance left at 12.59pm."
A Glasgow Prestwick spokesperson said; "We can confirm that a Delta Aircraft made an emergency landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport today, 10 February 2023. The Aircraft landed safely at approximately 11.31am, and passengers disembarked the aircraft."
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