On November 11, 2024, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A320, operating flight DL1648 from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to Denver International Airport (DEN), arrived with a significant dent in its nose cone, known as the radome. The aircraft, registered as N351NW, carried 148 passengers and six crew members. Despite the visible damage, the flight landed safely and taxied to the gate without incident.
• Source: Aviation Herald
Delta Air Lines reported that the flight crew did not observe any events during the journey that could have caused the dent. Upon arrival, maintenance crews inspected the aircraft to determine the cause of the damage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that a post-flight inspection revealed the nose cone had collapsed for unknown reasons during the flight.
Passenger Lynn Bennett expressed surprise upon seeing the damage after deplaning, stating, “It was kind of a shock. We looked over and that’s what we saw and nobody’s kind of been able to figure out what it is.” She mentioned experiencing slight turbulence during the flight but nothing out of the ordinary.
The radome is a critical component of an aircraft, housing the radar equipment essential for navigation and weather detection. Damage to this area can compromise the aircraft’s radar capabilities and structural integrity. Common causes of radome damage include bird strikes, hailstorms, or mechanical failures. In this instance, the absence of any reported incidents during the flight has left the cause of the dent undetermined.
Following the incident, the aircraft was removed from service for repairs, resulting in a delay of approximately four and a half hours for its next scheduled flight to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). A replacement Airbus A319 was deployed to operate that service. After undergoing maintenance, the A320 returned to service the following day, operating flight DL2002 to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Delta Air Lines has not provided further details regarding the cause of the radome damage. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety and apologized to passengers for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
