Delta plane underwent FIVE-HOUR cleanup operation where entire carpet needed to be replaced – after passenger suffered horrific bout of diarrhea

The Delta flight from Atlanta to Barcelona was forced to turn back after a passenger suffered a terrible bout of diarrhea and had to undergo a five-hour clean-up operation that included tearing up and replacing the entire carpet.

Passengers on board shared updates on how staff used vanilla-scented disinfectants as they returned to Atlanta on Friday night, where the plane was thoroughly cleaned.

After five hours of waiting, while the crew ripped up the carpet, passengers posted on social media that the plane was even cleaner than when they first boarded.

After a flight of 8 hours and 13 minutes, the plane finally landed in Barcelona at 5.10 pm – eight hours later than planned.

One took to social media and said her partner reported the offending feces had been dripping down the aisle.

Some with knowledge of the situation posted on social media after passengers arrived back in Atlanta

The woman, known as Dee W on X, said, “My partner was on that flight!” It was pretty bad. It seeped down the aisle and smelled awful.

“The vanilla-scented sanitizer used on it only made it smell like vanilla***. After the plane landed, it was thoroughly cleaned. They didn’t leave until about 2:30 AM.

The flight was met by emergency vehicles and EMTs carried the sick passenger off the plane.

“My partner said the plane was cleaner when they got back on at 2am than the first time they got on. No smell either.’

Another passenger aboard the Airbus A350 plane also praised the clean-up operation.

“Both my wife and I were on the run. It was a mess. The pilots made the right decision to turn around. The ground crew took out the carpet and replaced it.

“Given the circumstances, the ground crew did an excellent job, along with the escorts and the pilots,” wrote John Hurdt.

The plane bound for Barcelona returned to Atlanta and underwent a five-hour carpet cleaning operation (file photo)

The plane had only been on the road for an hour when it had to turn around because of the incident

Pictured here is an FAA emergency lane where the crew relayed details that brought the issue to the attention of the shipboard

In a text message sent to air traffic control, the captain explained the problem succinctly: “Change to ATL – passenger diarrhea all over the plane – biohazardous.”

Air traffic control audio recordings also show one of the pilots confirming the situation over the radio, saying, “It’s just a biological hazard, we had a passenger who had diarrhea all through the flight, so they want us to come back to Atlanta. ‘

The aircraft was met on the ground by emergency vehicles who removed the passenger from the aircraft before it was cleaned.

While Delta acknowledged that there was an unexpected medical event during the flight, the airline remained tight-lipped about the details.

The plane landed in Atlanta at 10:40 p.m. and finally resumed its journey to Spain just over five hours later at 3 a.m. Shown here is a standard Delta plane

“Our teams worked as quickly and safely as possible to thoroughly clean the aircraft and get our customers to their final destination.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans,” the airline said in a statement.

Delta has since confirmed to DailyMail.com that the aircraft has received a thorough cleaning and will remain in service.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, the Federal Aviation Administration said, “Delta Air Lines Flight 194 returned safely to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at approximately 10:40 p.m. local time Friday, Sept. 1, after the crew declared a medical emergency for the passengers. reported.

“The Airbus A350 was on its way to Barcelona.”

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for further comment on the matter.