Delta Lagos–Atlanta flight diverts to Accra after mid-air incident
Safe Landing in Accra as Delta Jet Cuts Short Transatlantic Trip
Elohim Nyame 
Delta Air Lines flight DL55 from Lagos to Atlanta was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Accra, Ghana, on Tuesday, 23 September 2025, after just over an hour in the air.
The Airbus A330-223, registered N857NW, took off from Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 11:02 UTC, slightly behind schedule, before turning north-west into Ghanaian airspace. Tracking data shows the aircraft circled near Kumasi before descending safely into Kotoka International Airport, touching down at 12:12 UTC.
Passengers reported no injuries, and all travellers were safely disembarked alongside crew members. Delta Air Lines has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the diversion.
The wide-body jet, now more than 20 years old, is a regular fixture on Delta’s daily DL54/55 service linking Lagos with Atlanta, one of the few nonstop transatlantic routes connecting West Africa and the United States. The diversion cut short the long-haul journey, which normally spans over 11 hours.
Aviation observers note that while unscheduled landings are not uncommon, they often stem from precautionary measures such as technical concerns, medical issues, or operational factors. The absence of injuries suggests the decision was taken out of caution rather than emergency.
The incident highlights the challenges of long-haul operations across West Africa, where options for diversionary airports are limited. For now, passengers face delays as Delta works to either reposition the aircraft or arrange onward travel to the United States.
