A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Orlando, Florida, was forced to make an unexpected return to Atlanta on Saturday morning after reports of fumes in the cockpit. The incident prompted passengers to evacuate the aircraft using emergency slides.
The flight, which departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 7:23 a.m., was diverted shortly after takeoff and landed back in Atlanta at 7:59 a.m. According to air traffic control audio, the crew announced a change of plans due to smoke in the back of the plane, requiring immediate deplaning.
There were 199 passengers and six crew members on board the Boeing 757, all of whom were safely evacuated using slides on the taxiway. The passengers were then bused back to the main terminal, where they are being placed on a replacement aircraft to continue their trip to Orlando.
Delta maintenance crews are currently inspecting the grounded plane to determine the cause of the issue. The airline has stated that the flight crew followed standard procedures to return to the airport after reports of fumes in the flight deck.
In a statement, Delta emphasized that safety is paramount and apologized to customers for their experience. The cause of the fumes has not yet been confirmed by airline officials.
