A Delta Air Lines flight from Dublin to New York was forced to make an emergency landing in Iceland this week after one of the plane’s engines reportedly failed mid-flight.
The routine transatlantic flight quickly turned into a scary experience for more than 200 passengers onboard, including TikToker @lohannysant, who documented the ordeal as it unfolded.
Flight DL45 departed Dublin Airport (DUB) on Tuesday, October 21, at 1:06 p.m. local time, bound for New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The Boeing 767-300, which typically completes the route in about seven and a half hours, was cruising west across the North Atlantic when passengers began to notice something was wrong.
“No guys, like it’s not funny. I literally almost died on a Delta flight,” Lohanny said in a TikTok video that has since gone viral.
“I was on a flight from Dublin to JFK and maybe like two hours into the flight, all of the sudden the left engine went out and then the screens went dark and everyone is so confused. We don’t hear anything from the pilot for a while… The girl next to me starts crying. That was the craziest thing ever.”
Flight tracking data from FlightAware confirms that the aircraft veered off its planned course partway across the Atlantic, turning north toward Iceland. The plane landed safely at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) at 8:43 p.m. local time.
The TikToker describes passengers panicking in the cabin
For passengers onboard, the situation was tense and confusing. Lohanny described the moment as surreal:
“The plane tilted, someone yelled to put life vests on,” she said in a follow-up video. “We are now safe in Iceland after the emergency landing.”
Lohanny stated that without immediate communication from the flight crew, many onboard didn’t know what had happened. “Everyone was so confused, the girl next to me started crying,” Lohanny recalled.
“Shout out to the stranger that let me squeeze his arm the whole way through, and helped me calm down. Shout out to the girl next to me who did breathing exercises, and the woman behind me who gave me a Ring Pop.”
The passengers erupted in applause when the plane finally touched down in Iceland. “We landed safely, but I thought I was going to die,” Lohanny said. “And now we are here in Iceland. I don’t know when we are going home.”
Silence from the aircrew during an emergency is normal
Aviation experts note that in an emergency, silence from the cockpit doesn’t necessarily mean inaction. In fact, it often means the opposite.
When a potential mechanical issue occurs mid-flight, pilots’ first responsibility is to fly the aircraft and manage the situation, not communicate. They must diagnose the problem, stabilize the plane, and run through emergency checklists to ensure the aircraft remains under control before updating passengers or even the cabin crew.
In this case, the flight crew likely had to assess the status of the affected engine, communicate with air traffic control, and prepare for a diversion to the nearest suitable airport, all while coordinating with their onboard team. These actions can take several minutes, which can feel like an eternity to passengers unaware of what’s unfolding behind the cockpit door.
Once the situation is stabilized, pilots typically make a cabin announcement explaining the issue and the plan, but by then, many passengers may have already sensed that something was wrong.
Although it can be unsettling, temporary silence during an emergency is standard procedure. In aviation, the guiding principle is: aviate, navigate, communicate, meaning the crew must focus on flying the plane safely before talking about it.
Delta’s diverted flight from Dublin left passengers stranded in Iceland
Delta reportedly arranged hotel accommodations for the passengers while maintenance crews presumably inspected the aircraft. Lohanny and several fellow travelers decided to make the most of their unexpected layover in Iceland.
“We are so happy to be alive and will be making the most of our short time in Iceland,” she said in another update. “This morning, none of us knew each other. We all helped each other out,” stated Lohanny.
In addition, Lohanny thanked commenters on her TikTok who reassured her that the situation was under control and not as dangerous as it felt in the moment.
One commenter replied, “So this isn’t really survivors, but planes can 10000% fly with one engine. Always. That’s entirely the point of having two so if one goes out. You weren’t in any danger. Landing is a precaution.”
Another replied, “Single engine failure is pretty common on aging fleets but with all the safeguards in place…its not that dangerous and all pilots have adequate training to handle this.”
“One engine going is not the worst case scenario—they are made to run off of one when that happen.. just trying add some positive to it.” stated another responder in the comments.
What caused the emergency landing?
Delta Air Lines has not yet released an official statement detailing the cause of the diversion.
According to flight records, the Boeing 676-300 remained in Reykjavik overnight following the maintenance issue. Engine-related issues are among the most common reasons for diversions over the North Atlantic, where flight paths offer limited options for emergency landings.
Fortunately, twin-engine aircraft like the Boeing 676-300 are designed to operate safely even if one engine fails. However, an engine shutdown mid-flight can still create intense fear and confusion among passengers, especially during long-haul overwater routes where immediate diversions are not always possible.
Passengers are making the most of their time in Iceland
For Lohanny and the others on DL45, the scary experience has bonded some of the passengers together. “We were all strangers this morning,” she said. “Now we’re friends who went through something insane together.”
“Me and my new friends are all making the most of this situation,” Lohanny posted, showing a video of herself and other passengers relaxing at the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most famous geothermal spas. “This is the most insane thing ever. The water is so beautiful.”
Her videos have since racked up hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, with commenters praising her calmness and sense of humor despite the terrifying experience.
So many inaccuracies in this article. Left them stranded? Oh but they got hotels. This Tim roller will do anything for engagement. Dramatic much. You got to see another country for free. No one died or was even close to dying. A friend was on the same flight. Completely different experience. Many announcements. Very helpful.
Hi Toni! Thanks for the message. We are reporting what the TikTok user shared on her profile, hence many quotes throughout the article. We are simply quoting and sharing her perspective of the story.
My daughter was on the plane. Sounds like it was pretty traumatic. Many people on the plane, even a flight attendant, were crying and in fear.