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Delta flight from Barcelona to Boston diverts to Portugal after smoke detected in cabin

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 6 outlets across the spectrum.

7 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A Delta Air Lines flight carrying 283 passengers and 13 crew members from Barcelona to Boston made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal on Sunday after smoke or fumes were detected in the cabin. Delta said the diversion was due to a “reported mechanical issue.” After landing, emergency responders treated passengers on the tarmac, and outlets report differing numbers hospitalized for smoke inhalation, ranging from three to four, while other reports say 14 total received medical attention. Delta apologized for the delay and said it was working to rebook passengers to Boston. The flight departed Barcelona around 3:15 p.m. local time and landed in Porto about two and a half hours later.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. A Delta flight from Barcelona to Boston was diverted to Porto, Portugal after smoke was detected in the cabin.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The flight carried 283 passengers and 13 crew members.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. Delta attributed the diversion to a 'reported mechanical issue.'

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. Some passengers were treated by Portuguese emergency responders after landing.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. Reports differ on how many passengers were hospitalized: some say four, others say three.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Right-leaning outlets reported 14 passengers total needed medical attention, citing AFP and Portugal's civil protection service.

    Reported byRight

  2. The flight departed Barcelona around 3:15 p.m. and landed in Porto around 5:45 p.m. local time.

    Reported byLeftCenter

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Number of passengers hospitalized for smoke inhalation

    Right-leaning outlets (Just the News, Fox News) report four passengers were hospitalized, while The Hill (center) reports three were hospitalized after eight were treated on the tarmac; The Daily Beast’s earlier report cites three injured.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    2 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets use straightforward, fact-based headlines, with one (The Daily Beast’s earlier report) emphasizing the number of passengers injured.

    Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Smoke Fills Cabin
    The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The Hill’s headline is neutral and descriptive, and its reporting provides the most detailed timeline and sourcing.

    Delta flight makes emergency landing due to smoke in cabin
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    3 outlets

    Right-leaning outlets generally use factual headlines, though Fox News frames the event with more dramatic language emphasizing danger and disruption.

    Sensational language“Midair scare”Frames a mechanical/smoke incident as a dramatic ‘scare’ rather than describing it factually.More neutral: Smoke incidentDisagree with this highlight? forces Sensational language“packed passenger jet”‘Packed’ exaggerates the plane’s occupancy for dramatic effect rather than stating passenger numbers factually.More neutral: passenger jetDisagree with this highlight? into emergency landing, travelers hospitalized
    Fox NewsFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left1

    notorious

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right2

    Midair scarepacked passenger jet

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    Midair scareMore neutral: Smoke incident

    Frames a mechanical/smoke incident as a dramatic ‘scare’ rather than describing it factually.

    Midair scare forces packed passenger jet into emergency landing, travelers hospitalized

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    packed passenger jetMore neutral: passenger jet

    ‘Packed’ exaggerates the plane’s occupancy for dramatic effect rather than stating passenger numbers factually.

    Midair scare forces packed passenger jet into emergency landing, travelers hospitalized

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    notoriousMore neutral: known for (describe)

    Judgement of reputation as fact.

    The mosquito-borne viral illness, notorious for intense joint pain, is often called “breakbone fever.” Dengue is more common in…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

2 outlets

Leads with

  • number of passengers injured
  • basic sequence of events
  • flight details

Leaves out

  • the 'mechanical issue' explanation from Delta
  • the 14-passenger medical attention figure cited by AFP

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 2 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • detailed timeline of the flight
  • attribution to Delta spokesperson and Portuguese officials
  • specific hospitalization and treatment numbers
See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Delta flight makes emergency landing due to smoke in cabin

    A Boston-bound Delta Air Lines flight from Barcelona made an emergency landing in Portugal after smoke was detected inside the cabin on Sunday. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

3 outlets

Leads with

  • number of passengers requiring medical attention
  • hospitalization details
  • disruption to travel plans

Leaves out

  • the more precise on-tarmac treatment breakdown reported by The Hill

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 3 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • Fox NewsFar Right

    Sensational language“Midair scare”Frames a mechanical/smoke incident as a dramatic ‘scare’ rather than describing it factually.More neutral: Smoke incidentDisagree with this highlight? forces Sensational language“packed passenger jet”‘Packed’ exaggerates the plane’s occupancy for dramatic effect rather than stating passenger numbers factually.More neutral: passenger jetDisagree with this highlight? into emergency landing, travelers hospitalized

    Four passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation after a Boston-bound Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency diversion to Porto, Portugal.

    Read at Fox News (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRight

    Boston-bound Delta flight makes emergency landing in Portugal after smoke fills cabin

    A Boston-bound Delta Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Portugal Sunday after smoke filled the cabin – and four people were hospitalized.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Delta Air Lines flight to Boston forced to make emergency landing in Portugal after smoke in cabin

    The flight made the emergency landing in Porto, Portugal and 14 passengers needed medical attention once the plane was safely on the ground. Four needed to be taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but were only "lightly" affected.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    3 hr 18 min later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 6:51 AM EDT

  • Center

    11 hr 21 min later

    Its first report, Sep 28, 2:54 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Sep 28, 3:33 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightSep 28, 3:33 AM EDT
  2. CBS NewsLeftSep 28, 6:51 AM EDT
  3. The Daily BeastFar LeftSep 28, 9:01 AM EDT
  4. The HillCenterSep 28, 2:54 PM EDT
  5. Fox NewsFar RightSep 28, 4:34 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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