An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York

NEW YORK — An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jet shortly after takeoff from New York on Friday, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.

Delta said that after takeoff, the pilots were warned about the emergency slide on the right side of the plane and heard an unusual noise coming from that area of ​​the Boeing 767 fighter jet, which is listed as manufactured in 1990.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the crew reported a vibration.

Pilots declared a state of emergency so the flight could be quickly routed back to the airport. The plane landed and taxied to a gate under its own power, the airline said.

There were 176 passengers, two pilots and five flight attendants on board the flight, which was headed to Los Angeles. Delta said it put passengers on another plane to California.

Delta said the plane was taken out of service for evaluation and that it was cooperating with investigators and supporting efforts to find the slide.

“Because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta flight crews completed their extensive training and procedures to return to JFK,” the airline said in a statement.