Delta Flight Returns to Atlanta After Haze Fills Cabin, Forcing Emergency Evacuation

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Columbia, South Carolina, was forced to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday morning after a “haze” was detected inside the aircraft, officials said.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Boeing 717 aircraft returned around 9 a.m. after the flight crew reported possible smoke in the flight deck. The plane, carrying 94, three flight attendants, and two pilots, deployed emergency slides for evacuation upon landing, Delta confirmed to CNN.

“The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when haze was observed inside the aircraft after departure,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. “The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority, and we apologize for the experience.” The airline is currently investigating the cause of the haze.

Passengers described the situation as unsettling. One traveler, Johnny, who preferred to share only his first name, told CNN, “When the plane took off, it began to fill with haze, and at times, it was hard to breathe.”

Kristin Morris, another passenger, said the haze appeared five to ten minutes after takeoff. “A few of us started questioning what was happening, and then people began yelling, ‘Smoke, smoke, smoke,’” she recounted. “We were in the air for about 20 minutes before landing, but it felt like a long time.”

Delta declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic control. After landing, passengers were evacuated and temporarily held in a conference room while Delta worked to determine the source of the issue. However, Morris said they were eventually released without receiving an explanation.

Following the aircraft’s return, Atlanta Fire Rescue assisted with deplaning passengers and crew members, according to a statement from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The FAA is investigating the incident.