A Delta Airbus A220 headed from New York LaGuardia to Jacksonville turned back to the gate on Sunday because deicing fluid got inside the cabin and soaked a passenger.
Delta 1307 was scheduled out at 2:10pm and didn’t depart until 5:22pm. Air traffic control audio captured the crew requesting to return right after deicing. Coming off the deice pad, the pilots told ground they needed to go back to a gate, and when ATC asked why: deicing fluid leaked inside the aircraft and “soak[ed] the aircraft.”
Delta flight returns to the gate at Boston Logan because a passenger got covered in deicing fluid? That’s a new for me
Audio and video via the awesome @theATCapp pic.twitter.com/Txuecr2tf5
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) January 20, 2026
Despite the mention in the tweet of Boston, Delta 1307 departs LaGuardia. The most likely explanation is overspray near the entry door. Doors and seals are not designed to behave like a submarine hatch on the ground, and high-pressure spray too close to gaps can push fluid inside past seals. Fluid can also ends up in systems meant to move air. That becomes a fumes or odor issue.
Aircraft deicing fluid is typically propylene glycol mixed with water, heated to around 150 degrees and sprayed under pressure. That’s notsomething you want on your skin or clothes for the duration of flight.
(HT: Paddle Your Own Kanoo)
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That usually happens when glycol is sprayed right at the seals. You’re supposed to spray above the windows and let it run down over the windows.
If it were me, I’d be calling an attorney.
Morgan & Morgan is ready and waiting. They even run ads on social media for aircraft smells.