A Delta flight en route from Los Angeles to Boston executed an emergency landing in Detroit because of an urgent health problem in the air. The aircraft commander sent a radio message that he felt sick and needed hospitalization. In his message, the captain announced his illness directly, stating, "This is the captain. I'm the one that's ill."

Upon sharing the news of his illness, the pilot rerouted the plane to Detroit to go to a hospital. The unexpected arrival in Detroit permitted the captain to obtain hospital treatment for his health situation.