A Case of Delta Blues

What is going on at Delta Air Lines? Hardly a day seems to pass without news of another near disaster involving one of the Atlanta-based carrier's jets. Last week a Delta 767 landed on the wrong runway in Boston and forced a nearby plane to stop suddenly to avoid a crash. Then two Delta jets leaving Los Angeles faced mechanical difficulties. One plane's flight was aborted on the runway because of a malfunctioning warning light; the other took off but had to return to the airport when a pressurization problem surfaced. Those episodes, added to several other Delta mishaps in recent weeks, were enough to make a mockery of its slogan, "We get you there with care." Concerned, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would inspect the airline's safety procedures.

Delta's black comedy of errors began late last month when one of its jets dropped to within 600 ft. of the Pacific Ocean after a pilot accidentally shut off the plane's engines. The following week, on a stormy night in Kentucky, a Delta flight landed in Frankfort when it was supposed to touch down in Lexington. Two days later one of the carrier's L-1011 jumbo jets was off course and reportedly came within 100 ft. of colliding with a Continental 747 over the Atlantic Ocean.

Individually, each of these incidents could be a rare mistake or malfunction. But together they form a pattern of blunders that calls into question Delta's competence. Said Acting FAA Administrator Robert Whittington: "Each incident apparently involved human error, and this is a matter of great concern to us." The agency will examine, among other things, the carrier's pilot-training programs and long-range navigation procedures.

Delta says the series of mistakes is an improbable coincidence that will not be repeated. Says Spokesman Jim Ewing: "We are a straight-arrow company. There is not one shred of evidence" linking the events. Still, Delta has begun its own investigation.

The airline's woes are surprising, given its reputation for reliability. In a Government study released last week, Delta had fewer consumer complaints than all but five of 22 carriers. Most passengers appear unfazed by the airline's difficulties, and few have canceled reservations.

As if Delta did not have enough troubles, a monkey broke loose last week in the baggage hold of a 727 about to take off from Atlanta for Columbus. It took an hour to corral the animal, and the flight was canceled. The incident might normally have been good for a chuckle, but Delta officials are in no mood to laugh.