A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Columbia, South Carolina, made an emergency landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday morning (February 24) after a haze was reported inside the aircraft. The Boeing 717, carrying 94 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots, returned to Atlanta around 9 a.m. after the crew reported potential smoke in the flight deck, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident.
Delta Airlines confirmed that the flight crew followed proper procedures to ensure the safety of all on board. The aircraft deployed emergency slides on the runway for evacuation.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience,” a Delta spokesperson said.
Passengers described the situation as alarming, with one passenger, Johnny, telling CNN that the haze made it difficult to breathe. Another passenger, Kristin Morris, reported that the haze began to fill the plane five to ten minutes after takeoff, causing panic among passengers who started shouting “smoke.”
The plane was in the air for about 35 minutes before landing safely.
After the landing, Atlanta Fire Rescue assisted in the deplaning process. Passengers were temporarily held in a conference room as Delta investigated the cause of the haze. Although the exact cause remains undetermined, Delta is working to rebook passengers to their final destinations. The incident caused moderate disruptions to airport operations at Hartsfield-Jackson.
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