Editing Delta Air Lines (section)

== Controversies and passenger incidents ==
{{Main|2024 Delta Air Lines disruption}}

In July 2024, Delta canceled over 7,000 flights during a [[2024 Delta Air Lines disruption|disruption]] following the [[2024 CrowdStrike incident]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Franklin |first=Jonathan |date=July 22, 2024 |title=Delta canceled hundreds of flights Monday as it recovers from CrowdStrike failures |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/nx-s1-5048858/delta-canceles-hundreds-of-flights-recovering-after-crowdstrike-failures |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=NPR}}</ref> The incident closely resembled the [[2022 Southwest Airlines scheduling crisis]], when a factor outside of the airline's control triggered a resulting mass cancellation event.<ref name=":1" /> On Tuesday July 23, 2024, [[United States Secretary of Transportation]], [[Pete Buttigieg]], announced the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]] would be launching an investigation into the events that prevented Delta Air Lines from swiftly recovering, as other airlines had.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2024 |title=US is investigating Delta's flight cancellations and faltering response to global tech outage |url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-outage-delta-air-lines-delays-7361e641fe2c656d7fba06e4a0424c6a |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Over the course of the event over 500,000 passengers were inconvenienced, according to Delta CEO Ed Bastian, and over 3,000 complaints had been lodged with the government according to the Department of Transportation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Delta meltdown: Airline expects cancelations to be 'minimal' days after CrowdStrike outage |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/delta-cancelations-update-crowdstrike-outage-response-travel-protections |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=FOX 5 Atlanta |language=en-US}}</ref>

Delta has claimed to have lost $500 million due to the outages and associated costs.<ref name=wsj_litigation>{{cite news |last1=Sider |first1=Alison |title=Delta CEO Says CrowdStrike Tech Outage Cost It $500 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/delta-ceo-says-crowdstrike-tech-outage-costs-could-reach-500-million-3b7f5a13 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 31, 2024}}</ref> The airline has hired [[David Boies]] in preparation for litigation against Microsoft and CrowdStrike.<ref name=wsj_litigation/>

On November 26, 2024, a passenger without a boarding pass [[2024 Delta Air Lines stowaway case|bypassed all security protocols]] and managed to stow aboard a flight from New York JFK airport to Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/11/28/delta-airlines-tsa-stowaway-nyc-paris-flight/76639097007/|title=Stowaway sneaks onto Delta Air Lines flight from NYC to Paris; flies without boarding pass|work=USA Today|date=November 28, 2024|first=Saman|last=Shafiq}}</ref>

=== Safety and aircraft maintenance ===
In April 2025, two Delta Air Lines flights experienced incidents in which ceiling panels detached mid-flight, injuring at least one passenger. The events occurred on a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 717, prompting scrutiny of Delta’s maintenance practices and the condition of its older aircraft. Emergency personnel assessed the injured upon landing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Derby |first=Kevin |date=17 April 2025 |title=Delta Passengers Injured After Cabin Ceiling Falls on Two Flights |url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/04/17/delta-passengers-injured-after-cabin-ceiling-falls-on-two-flights/|work=Aviation A2Z |location= |publisher= |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>

That same month, three Delta flights made emergency landings within five days due to cabin pressurization issues. The aircraft either diverted or returned to their departure airports, with crews following established emergency protocols. Although no serious injuries were reported, the incidents raised concerns about the airline’s operational oversight. Delta stated that it provided accommodations for affected passengers and reaffirmed its focus on safety.<ref>{{cite news |last=Derby |first=Kevin |date=12 April 2025 |title=Three Delta Air Lines Flights Makes Emergency Landings Due to Same Problem |url=https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/04/12/three-delta-flights-emergency-landings-due-to-pressurization/|work=Aviation A2Z |location= |publisher= |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>