On Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency return to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta shortly after taking off. This decision was made after the crew detected a smoky haze in the cockpit, according to a statement from federal aviation officials.
The flight in question, Delta Flight 876, was en route to Columbia, South Carolina. The aircraft returned safely to the Atlanta airport after the crew noted potential smoke within the flight deck, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). An investigation into the incident is currently underway by the FAA. This event follows a recent aviation mishap involving Delta, where one of their planes flipped upon crash landing in Toronto, resulting in injuries to 21 individuals.
According to a statement released by Delta, the Boeing 717 aircraft had 94 passengers aboard when the haze inside was noticed. To ensure passenger safety and expedite the return, the pilots declared an emergency, securing priority handling from air traffic control.
Upon safely landing back in Atlanta, the aircraft deployed slides to facilitate a swift and efficient evacuation of passengers. According to Delta spokesperson Samantha Moore Facteau, emergency medical technicians were present and attended to two passengers.
In their official statement, Delta underscored that “the safety of our customers and people is of utmost importance,” and issued an apology for the inconvenience experienced by their passengers.
