Delta Grounds 133 Aircraft for Inspections

Atlanta, Georgia - Delta Airlines on Wednesday night ordered voluntary inspections of wire bundles on its MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft. The aircraft were inspected earlier this year but Delta says it is "proactively and voluntarily revalidating" compliance with an Airworthiness Directive from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The airline is not sure how long the inspections will take but Delta cancelled about 56 flights out of Hartsfield Airport Wednesday evening. No flights to Tampa were affected but flights to Tallahassee, Sarasota, and Pensacola were scrubbed. Delta says it won't be able to help stranded travelers until Thursday. The airline is contacting people with future flight plans to reschedule their travel.

Earlier Wednesday, American Airlines cancelled about 325 flights so maintenance crews could inspect wiring bundles on its MD-80 aircraft. Seven American Airlines flights to Tampa International Airport were scrubbed. Seven departing flights were also cancelled.

FMI: TampaBay10