A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Orlando made an emergency landing at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday morning after reporting smoke in the flight deck, leading to the evacuation of all passengers and crew via slides on a taxiway.
Delta flight 2204, carrying 199 passengers and six crew members, departed Atlanta at 7:23 a.m. ET and returned shortly after takeoff due to the reported issue. The aircraft landed on a taxiway, where passengers and crew used evacuation slides before being transported by bus to the terminal. Delta confirmed the flight crew followed standard emergency procedures in response to the fumes.
Passengers were rebooked on a new aircraft to complete their journey to Orlando, while the original plane underwent a maintenance review, according to a Delta spokesperson. The airline stated that safety is paramount and apologized for the disruption to customers.
Air traffic control audio, captured by ATC.com, included a transmission from the flight crew: "Delta 2204, change of plans. We now have smoke in the back, and we need to deplane immediately." The flight was operated using a Boeing 757 aircraft.
Delta has not provided further details on the source of the smoke or the nature of the maintenance review. The incident remains under investigation by the airline and aviation authorities. No injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have not yet issued statements regarding the incident. Delta has not specified a timeline for the completion of the maintenance review or the resumption of normal operations for the affected aircraft.