A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Columbia, South Carolina, operated by a Boeing 717-200, was forced to return to Atlanta and hurriedly evacuate after smoke filled the cabin after takeoff.
Delta Air Lines 717-200 Emergency Landing + Slide Evacuation After Cabin Fills With Smoke
The incident occurred earlier today, Monday, February 24, 2025, on Delta flight 876, which departed from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) at 8:30 am bound for Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE). The flight was operated by a 25-year-old 717 (registration number N942AT), which entered service for AirTran in 1999 and was acquired by Delta in 2015.
Shortly after takeoff, a “haze inside the aircraft was observed” (according to a Delta spokesperson), prompting an immediate return to Atlanta. The FAA added, “The crew reported possible smoke in the flight deck.” Emergency slides were deployed and an evacuation ensued, with passenger video footage showing the cabin filled with smoke:
The flight had 94 passengers, plus two pilots and three flight attendants onboard.
Sadly, many took their carry-on items with them, slowing down the evacuation.
Fire rescue personnel from ATL met the aircraft and assisted in the evacuation. The cause of the smoke onboard is not yet known and the aircraft has been taken out of service.
Surely the fact that this occurred on Delta will add heightened scrutiny after the crash landing in Toronto last week of a Delta -Endeavor Air CRJ-900, but this appeared to be a textbook emergency landing and evacuation, minus the folks who were selfish enough to take their belongings with them…
image: passenger photograph shared with ABC News
I’ve been a long time advocate of imposing penalties for not leaving personal belongings behind in the event of an emergency. Every second counts.
Glad the everyone was able to evacuate safely. There’s a reason why safety demonstrations tell you to not take personal items when evacuating and the airline will compensate for lost items in such a situation. Sure, the question of how long this will take is up for grabs, which is not good in general. However, items are replaceable and human lives are not.
Well said. Thank you
At what point is DL CEO penalized for providing multiple examples of superior service no other airline in the world provides?
Airlines need to adequately compensate for lost luggage. That would reduce the incentive to grab your luggage. Even better would be to advise passengers to wear their coats during winter takeoffs and landings and to keep their wallets, keys, passports and unusual medication in their pockets. Some medication are really common and could be easily replaced. However, airlines don’t want to scare passengers.
I now prepare for a minor crash when I take a plane. It is so much easier and with no reduction in safety if you evacuate with your keys and wallet and passport as long as you are prepared in advance.
Also that is white smoke. If there was a fire ablaze one full breath of black smoke you’d die of smoke inhalation within minutes .
I last flew on a 717 (MD80/MD90) about ten years ago. I wasn’t confident in my safety then and I feel even less safer now with this latest story. It’s time to retire these old jets with its 60 year old DNA.