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By Gabe Whisnant
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A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to return to Atlanta shortly after takeoff on Monday when crew members reported a smoky haze inside the cockpit, federal officials said.
Delta Flight 876, en route to Columbia, South Carolina, landed safely back at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after the crew detected possible smoke in the flight deck, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Newsweek has reached out to Delta Air Lines on Monday via email for additional comments.
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Why It Matters
The incident follows another recent Delta aviation mishap—a crash landing in Toronto last week that caused a plane to flip over, injuring 21 people.
In 2025, the aviation industry has faced several significant incidents. On January 29, a catastrophic mid-air collision occurred over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., involving American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ700, and a U.S. Army Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Tragically, all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft perished. This marked the deadliest U.S. air disaster in nearly 24 years.
President Donald Trump's administration, through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), initiated significant workforce reductions within the FAA. Approximately 400 probationary employees were terminated, including roles that indirectly support safety inspectors and airport operations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that critical safety positions were unaffected. However, union representatives and former employees contended that the layoffs encompassed essential support staff, including aviation safety assistants and maintenance mechanics, whose roles are vital to maintaining aviation safety standards.
What To Know
Delta stated that 94 passengers were aboard the Boeing 717 when a haze was observed inside the aircraft shortly after departing Atlanta on Monday morning. Pilots declared an emergency to receive priority handling from air traffic controllers.
Upon landing, emergency slides were deployed to allow passengers to exit quickly. Delta spokesperson Samantha Moore Facteau confirmed via email that EMTs treated two passengers.
Another Delta flight on Monday, according to the FAA's website, landed safely at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico around 2:10 p.m., after the crew reported possible smoke in the flightdeck. The flight also departed from Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
And on Saturday, a Delta flight returned to Los Angeles after departing for Sydney, Australia, when smoke was detected in the galley, according to the airline.
What People Are Saying
Delta said in a statement: "The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when a haze inside the aircraft was observed after departure. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience."
Johnny, a passenger on the flight who asked for only his first name to be used, told CNN: "When the plane took off it began to fill up with haze and (it) was hard to breathe at times."
The FAA statement said: "Delta Air Lines Flight 876 returned safely to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 9 a.m. local time on Monday, February 24, after the crew reported possible smoke in the flightdeck. The Boeing 717-200 was headed to Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information."
What Happens Next
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.
This is a developing news story and will be updated with additional information.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 2/24/25, 7:22 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 2/24/25, 7:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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