According to the airline, an "indication of a mechanical issue in an engine" prompted the flight crew to divert the Airbus A330 to an Air Force base in the Azores. It is a remote chain of islands off the coast of Portugal. "Seeing all the emergency vehicles lining the runway, it reminded us it was a potentially dangerous situation," Elder said.

Delta flight 127 from Madrid to New York made an emergency landing on Terceira, Azores, a small volcanic island, CBS News reported. According to a Delta spokesperson, the plane carried 282 passengers and 13 crew members, and the group had spent approximately 29 hours on the island.