Emergency return: Over 200 passengers evacuate Delta flight in Atlanta
An Orlando-bound Delta Air Lines flight was forced to turn back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday morning after fumes were reported on the flight deck.
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - An Orlando-bound Delta Air Lines flight was forced to turn back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Saturday morning after fumes were reported on the flight deck.
Delta flight emergency return
What we know:
A Boeing 757 operating as Delta Flight 2204 departed Atlanta for Orlando on Saturday carrying 199 customers and six crew members. Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew declared an emergency and navigated the plane back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport due to reports of fumes in the cockpit, according to a Delta spokesperson.
First responders met the aircraft on an airport taxiway, where travelers and crew members evacuated the jet using emergency slides. Ground crews then transported everyone by bus back to the main terminal, according to airline officials.
Flight deck fume investigation
What they're saying:
Delta confirmed that travelers are being re-accommodated on a replacement aircraft to complete their trip to Orlando, according to an airline representative. Maintenance crews remain on site to conduct a full inspection of the grounded plane.
"The flight crew followed procedures to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after reports of fumes on the flight deck. A slide evacuation occurred on a taxiway, and customers are being re-accommodated on a new aircraft. Safety is paramount at Delta, and we apologize to our customers for their experience," a Delta spokesperson said in a statement.
Airline officials have not yet confirmed what caused the fumes inside the cockpit, according to a Delta spokesperson. Maintenance teams are currently evaluating the Boeing 757 to determine the origin of the issue.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from a Delta Air Lines spokesperson, who provided an official statement and background details regarding Flight 2204.