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Delta pilot gets locked out of cockpit, plane makes emergency landing

By Aileen Graef

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A Delta flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas had to make an emergency landing after the pilot got locked out of the cockpit.

The pilot attempted to re-enter the cockpit mid-flight while the first officer was at the controls and found the door to be jammed.

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No one panicked, but there was some confusion among the passengers.

"About halfway through [the 2.5-hour flight] there seemed to be some talking at the front of the plane. You could see the captain out there," passenger Jesse Dougherty told ABC News.

The first officer was able to land the plane safely, but since he was more familiar with the right seat controls -- which lack the controls needed to taxi -- the plane was towed to the gate.

"A commercial aircraft can be landed with one pilot at the control, and Delta pilots are fully trained to do so if the situation were to occur," Delta said in a statement. "The first officer took control and landed the aircraft safely without incident. The door will be evaluated by Delta maintenance technicians."

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