Passengers aboard a Delta Airlines flight experienced a terrifying ordeal when their cabin filled with thick smoke mid-flight, leading to an emergency landing and a rapid evacuation using inflatable slides. This alarming incident is the latest in a string of troubling events for the airline.
Emergency Landing After Mid-Air Smoke Scare
The Boeing 717 aircraft was en route to Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday morning when crew members noticed “haze inside the aircraft.” The situation quickly escalated, forcing the pilots to turn the plane around and make an emergency landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Upon landing, all 94 passengers onboard were swiftly evacuated using emergency inflatable slides. Fortunately, the two pilots and three flight attendants, along with the passengers, emerged unharmed. Atlanta Fire Rescue was on-site to assist with the deplaning process.
Dramatic Footage Captures Chaos
Footage captured by a passenger shows the distressing moment when smoke began permeating the cabin, leaving travelers covering their faces with clothing to shield themselves from inhaling the fumes. Additional video taken after the evacuation shows relieved passengers standing safely on the tarmac, grateful to have made it out unscathed.
A spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport assured the public that “Airfield operations are normal at this time.” Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.
A String of Airline Scares Raises Safety Concerns
This terrifying experience is just one in a series of concerning aviation incidents involving Delta Airlines. Just last week, another Delta flight suffered a dramatic mishap when a plane flipped upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport after landing. Additionally, multiple high-profile airline incidents this year have left passengers increasingly wary about the safety of air travel.
With such alarming occurrences becoming more frequent, concerns over airline safety protocols continue to rise. As authorities investigate, passengers are left questioning what more needs to be done to ensure their safety in the skies.
Stay tuned for updates as the FAA and Delta Airlines provide further details on this incident.
