Delta Flight Lands Safely After Gear Malfunction

Benjamin Townsend — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:56:13 +0000

Delta Flight Lands Safely After Gear Malfunction Benjamin Townsend Wed, 06/04/2025 - 11:56 AM

Delta Air Lines Flight 1375 declared an in-flight emergency at approximately 11:17 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, while approaching Syracuse Hancock International Airport (KSYR) in Dewitt, New York. The Airbus A320 aircraft reported a malfunction with its right landing gear and initiated an “Air Alert 2B,” prompting multiple emergency units to respond. “Air Alert 2B” is the aviation industry’s code used to signal a serious mechanical issue that could affect a safe landing, in this case specifically related to the landing gear.

Upon notification of the gear problem, airport dispatch automatically notified the following agencies:

Air National Guard: The military unit stationed at Hancock Field, trained to assist with aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) operations in coordination with civilian responders.
Navac Ambulance Service: A private emergency medical services (EMS) provider, responsible for on-scene patient care and transport if needed.
Syracuse Airport Police: The law enforcement body tasked with securing airport perimeters and managing ground traffic during emergencies.

When an aircraft issues an emergency call of this type, controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tower at Syracuse immediately clear the runway and position firefighting and rescue vehicles alongside the runway’s approach and departure paths. At Hancock Field, the ARFF teams—firefighters specially trained to deal with aircraft incidents—positioned foam-capable fire trucks near Runway 28, the 10,000-foot runway oriented roughly west (280 degrees on a compass).

Before attempting to touch down, Flight 1375 conducted an overflight—or “low pass”—directly above Runway 28 at about 11:36 a.m. This maneuver allowed ground crews to visually confirm whether the right landing gear was extending properly and free of obvious obstructions. Such overflights give firefighters and rescue technicians a final on-scene assessment before the aircraft attempts to land, ensuring that all potential hazards (sparks, fire from grinding metal, or gear collapse) can be anticipated and mitigated.

At 11:38 a.m., the Airbus A320 made a successful landing without incident. ARFF personnel confirmed that the right landing gear, though initially reported as malfunctioning, did deploy adequately for touchdown. Once the aircraft rolled to a stop, it taxied under its own power to the gate. Passengers were deplaned normally and escorted into the terminal; no injuries were reported.