A terrifying scene unfolded at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as Delta Air Lines Flight 876 was forced to evacuate after smoke filled the cabin mid-flight. The Boeing 717-200, bound for Columbia, South Carolina, made an emergency return to Atlanta just minutes after takeoff on Monday morning.
Emergency landing and chaotic evacuation
The plane landed safely at around 9 a.m., but all 94 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants were forced to evacuate using emergency slides. Shocking images showed travelers standing on the aircraft’s wing, clutching their belongings as thick haze filled the cabin.
“The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when a haze inside the aircraft was observed after departure,” a Delta spokesperson confirmed. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience.”
Investigations underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crew reported “possible smoke in the flight deck” shortly after departure, prompting an emergency declaration to prioritize the plane’s landing. Airport officials described the incident as having a “moderate impact on operations,” though no injuries were reported.
Delta’s safety record under scrutiny
This evacuation comes just days after another horrifying Delta flight incident. On February 17, a Delta flight from Minneapolis to Toronto lost control amid heavy winds, flipping upside down on the runway before bursting into flames. Miraculously, all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, though 21 were hospitalized.
Airline offers compensation after fiery crash
Delta has since offered $30,000 to each passenger aboard the Toronto-bound flight as an apology. Meanwhile, an investigation into the crash is ongoing, with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Canadian authorities working to determine the cause.
With back-to-back aviation scares, Delta’s safety measures are now under intense scrutiny as passengers demand answers about what went wrong.
