A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Detroit from Shanghai made an emergency landing at Tokyo Haneda Airport on November 28, 2023, due to a hydraulic issue. The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900 operating as Delta Flight 388, diverted approximately 140 nautical miles (259 km) north of Tokyo after the crew detected the problem. Upon arrival, the runway at Haneda was closed for about 30 minutes as emergency services were deployed.
The flight had departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 17:46 local time, with a typical gate-to-gate duration of around 13 hours. As the aircraft neared Japan, the flight crew identified the hydraulic malfunction, prompting the decision to divert to the nearest major airport for safety reasons. The A350 touched down safely on Runway 34R and was met by emergency teams on the ground.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement regarding the incident, emphasizing the priority of passenger and crew safety. A spokesperson commented:
“On Nov. 28, the crew of Delta flight 388 followed procedures to divert to Tokyo-Haneda after reporting a mechanical issue while en route from Shanghai to Detroit. The aircraft landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew.”
Following the landing, the aircraft was towed to the gate, where it remained overnight. The rest of the flight was subsequently cancelled. Data from Flightradar24 indicates that the A350, registered as N512DN, a nearly seven-year-old aircraft, remained on the apron before being repositioned to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The aircraft departed Haneda as DL9888 on November 29 at 23:14 and arrived in Seattle at 14:26.
Delta Air Lines operates a daily non-stop service between Shanghai and Detroit, and the diversion caused significant delays for passengers. After the incident, Delta arranged for a corresponding service to Detroit, which arrived at 23:02 on the same day.
The Airbus A350-941, registration N512DN, first took to the skies in December 2018 and was delivered to Delta in January 2019. It is configured with 32 Business Class, 48 Premium Economy, and 226 Economy Class seats, serving a variety of long-haul routes for the airline. Delta currently operates 38 A350-900 aircraft, with an additional six on order, and plans to introduce the larger A350-1000 model in 2026.
Hydraulic issues in Airbus A350 aircraft are rare but can present significant safety concerns, including the possibility of uncommanded flight surface movements. This situation underscores the importance of a cautious approach when addressing mechanical problems in aviation. The crew’s decision to divert to Tokyo ensured the safety of everyone on board and allowed for necessary inspections to be conducted.
