Passengers aboard a Delta Airlines flight got an unwanted surprise on Friday. Flight DL1109 was forced to divert from Albuquerque to Farmington. There were 178 passengers and six crew aboard the plane.A spokesperson for Delta Airlines says a disabled aircraft at the Albuquerque International Sunport prevented their plane from landing. That led to the diversion to Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington.Albuquerque resident Jeanette Ashby was aboard Delta flight 1109. She told KOAT anchor Miguel Marquez that the plane was about to land, when it was forced to ascend due to a disabled plane. Flight 1109 briefly circled the Sunport before heading to Farmington due to low fuel.”They basically let us know that there was an issue with a plane that had taken off, where they had lost a wheel and that they were going to ask us to circle,” Ashby said.According to the Delta spokesperson, the passengers spent several hours in Farmington. The passengers were given food and were eventually bused to Albuquerque. In a statement, Albuquerque International Sunport spokesperson Diana Lopez said “On May 22, 2026 at approximately 4 pm, a GA aircraft experienced a mechanical issue after landing at the Sunport on Runway 8-26.””The aircraft landed safely, and the runway was temporarily closed (approximately 15 minutes) while the aircraft was removed from the runway safety area. During that time, one inbound Delta flight diverted to Farmington,” Lopez said.According to FlightAware, the plane eventually returned to the Sunport without the passengers Friday night.
Passengers aboard a Delta Airlines flight got an unwanted surprise on Friday. Flight DL1109 was forced to divert from Albuquerque to Farmington. There were 178 passengers and six crew aboard the plane.
A spokesperson for Delta Airlines says a disabled aircraft at the Albuquerque International Sunport prevented their plane from landing. That led to the diversion to Four Corners Regional Airport in Farmington.
Albuquerque resident Jeanette Ashby was aboard Delta flight 1109. She told KOAT anchor Miguel Marquez that the plane was about to land, when it was forced to ascend due to a disabled plane. Flight 1109 briefly circled the Sunport before heading to Farmington due to low fuel.
“They basically let us know that there was an issue with a plane that had taken off, where they had lost a wheel and that they were going to ask us to circle,” Ashby said.
According to the Delta spokesperson, the passengers spent several hours in Farmington. The passengers were given food and were eventually bused to Albuquerque.
In a statement, Albuquerque International Sunport spokesperson Diana Lopez said “On May 22, 2026 at approximately 4 pm, a GA aircraft experienced a mechanical issue after landing at the Sunport on Runway 8-26.”
“The aircraft landed safely, and the runway was temporarily closed (approximately 15 minutes) while the aircraft was removed from the runway safety area. During that time, one inbound Delta flight diverted to Farmington,” Lopez said.
According to FlightAware, the plane eventually returned to the Sunport without the passengers Friday night.
