A Delta Air Lines flight from the Netherlands to Minnesota turned around after takeoff this week.

"As nothing is more important than safety at Delta, DL161 returned to Amsterdam shortly after departure following a potential mechanical issue with the pneumatic system," the airline told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. There were 280 customers on the Sept. 8 flight, which was traveling from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.

Pneumatic systems are those that use "pressurized air to move something," according to the National Air and Space Museum.

"On aircraft, lots of different parts of the aircraft can be moved with pneumatic components or hydraulic components..." its website reads. "Some parts that use pneumatics or hydraulics are the ailerons, the elevators, the rudder and the flaps."

The flight made a safe landing in Amsterdam and maintenance is evaluating the plane’s condition, Delta added. "We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel plans," the airline said.

The flight is not the only one to backtrack after takeoff in recent months.

A United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai diverted to San Francisco after a pilot forgot his passport in March. Another United flight from Lagos, Nigeria to Washington, D.C. returned to its departure point in January after four passengers and two flight attendants were injured after unexpected movement.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US-bound Delta flight turns around after takeoff due to 'potential mechanical issue'

Reporting by Nathan Diller, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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