New York Flight Grounded After De-Icing Goes Very Wrong for One Passenger

According to People, airline delays are annoying enough on their own, but one Delta passenger got a front-row seat to a situation no one signs up for when they buckle in.

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On Sunday, a Delta flight had to abandon its takeoff plans and head back to the gate after something went very wrong during the de-icing process. Instead of the usual cold-weather inconvenience, de-icing fluid somehow made its way through the outside of the plane and ended up soaking a passenger inside the cabin. Yes — inside.

The problem came to light when the passenger told the flight crew the plane appeared to be leaking. The pilot made the call to return to the gate and let air traffic control know everyone was okay, though he reportedly joked that someone might need a fresh pair of pants. That feels like understating the situation.

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Delta later said the de-icing fluid isn’t hazardous and stressed that leaks like this are extremely rare. Still, the airline swapped out the plane entirely so maintenance could double-check that nothing more serious was going on.

The flight eventually took off on a different aircraft about three hours later, and the soaked passenger stayed on board and completed the trip. Whether they were given new pants remains unclear.

All I know is this: if they soaked my pants, ohhhhh boy. We’re talking a year of free flights or we’re not leaving the gate. There are inconveniences, and then there are “I got chemically marinated at 30,000 feet” situations — and those deserve compensation.