Overview

• The Federal Aviation Administration verified that a several-feet-long section of a left-wing trailing edge flap retrieved from a Raleigh driveway belongs to Delta Flight 3247, a Boeing 737-900ER that landed July 1 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport
• Delta Flight 3247 departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta late on July 1, encountered thunderstorms en route, and touched down about 55 minutes behind schedule with 109 passengers and six crew aboard
• The detached flap went unnoticed by crew members until a routine post-flight inspection revealed the missing section with no reported in-flight abnormalities or injuries
• Delta has grounded the specific aircraft involved and launched additional safety inspections across its 737-900ER fleet while fully cooperating with investigators
• Officials underscore the critical role of trailing edge flaps in lift control during takeoff and landing as the FAA works to determine how the component failed mid-air