Smoke filled a Delta plane after takeoff on Monday, February 24, forcing a return to Atlanta as passengers captured the incident from inside the cabin.
Delta Air Lines Flight 876, carrying 99 people, headed toward Columbia, South Carolina, when a haze spread inside the aircraft. The crew quickly decided to turn back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and safely landed the plane around 9 a.m. Passengers captured videos showing smoke drifting through the cabin, though no injuries occurred.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later confirmed that the crew had reported “possible smoke in the flightdeck.” The aircraft, a 26-year-old Boeing 717, had originally been bound for Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Delta, addressing the incident, stated that the crew followed all safety protocols. “The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when a haze inside the aircraft was observed after departure,” a Delta spokesperson told USA TODAY.
The airline reported that 94 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants were onboard. After the safe landing, Delta arranged ground transportation to the terminal and rebooked passengers on alternative flights.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience,” Delta added. The FAA announced plans to investigate the incident.
