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Here’s something you don’t see often on a flight … and that’s a good thing. A video (embedded below) recently emerged from a Delta Air Lines flight (Flight 2417) from Atlanta to Chicago, showing passengers dealing with an unexpected mid-air incident when a ceiling panel detached shortly after takeoff.
Passengers aboard a Chicago-bound Delta Airlines flight were forced to hold up a ceiling panel after it partially collapsed. pic.twitter.com/ds4mVXhTk9
— Storyful (@Storyful) April 24, 2025
Passenger Tom Witschy, seated in 19B, told Storyful that the panel fell near an elderly woman in the row ahead, prompting him and two other passengers to hold it up to prevent further disruption. They kept it propped up for approximately 30 to 45 minutes until flight attendants were able to secure it with tape — which was actually provided by another passenger.
The flight ended up returning to Atlanta for maintenance and passengers continued their journey on a different aircraft after about a two-hour delay. Delta confirmed the incident and offered affected passengers 10,000 frequent flyer miles as compensation.
After People Magazine posted about the incident, the comments section had some funny reactions — with a common theme: Should we all start packing tape when we fly?
@munsi: Should I bring my own tape on flights now? 🤔
@rabeasdeen: Must carry tape on next flight ✈️ 🤡
@queensized7: I’m more curious why he was traveling with tape? 😂
My answer? Yes — and I’ve actually been bringing tape on my travels for over a decade. Not because of ceiling panels falling down (thankfully), but because things can and do go wrong when you travel, like a ripped suitcase, a broken stroller, or needing to block out the sun or a bright light in a hotel room.
I always carry mini rolls of gaffer tape: one in my carry-on and one in our checked luggage. I also keep one in my desk drawer at home. Trust me, it’s a travel essential. Below is a picture of how I used it to block out an annoying motion sensor nightlight; looking back, I should have just taped the motion sensor.
But I’ve used gaffer tape in countless situations and never travel without it. Here’s more about why it’s one of my travel essentials.
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