Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Cabin Crew Smelled Strange Odor on Airplane

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• A Delta Air Lines plane made an emergency landing after cabin crew detected an unusual odor.

• The plane, which was heading from Orlando to Los Angeles, was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tampa at around 11:30 local time on Saturday, December 27.

• A Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE that the Airbus A321 had 194 passengers and six crew members on board and that the redirection was done “out of an abundance of caution.”

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Los Angeles made an emergency landing after cabin crew detected an unusual odor on board.

Flight DL504 was traveling from Orlando to Los Angeles, then was diverted and made an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport around 11:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, December 27, a Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE.

The spokesman said the Airbus A321 made an emergency landing “in an abundance of caution after the flight crew detected an odor on board”.

There were 194 passengers and six crew members on board at the time.

“Customers were placed on an alternate flight and departed for Los Angeles early this afternoon,” a Delta spokesperson said, noting that the plane departed Tampa shortly after 3 p.m. and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 5:40 p.m. local time.

Authorities did not say whether the cause of the odor was known.

“At Delta, the safety of our customers and crew comes first, and we appreciate our customers’ patience,” the Delta spokesperson added.

This weekend’s incident comes just a few weeks after a similar incident involving a strange smell as a Delta flight touched down in Texas.

A Delta flight that landed in Texas on December 16 requested emergency services after the incident. reporting an “unknown odor or smoke” in the cabin.

When the plane arrived at San Antonio International Airport, five people reported sick. The San Antonio Fire Department told PEOPLE at the time that “notes indicated an unknown odor or smoke inside the cabin” regarding the incoming Delta flight.

Once the plane landed safely, all off-airport units were canceled except for an EMS team.

EMS and four airport fire departments later evaluated five people on the flight who were “reportedly feeling unwell,” according to the statement.

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Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement on September 4 saying that studies have shown that airplane cabin air is “as good as or better than the air found in offices and homes.” However, rare “mechanical problems such as engine oil seal or circulation fan bearing failures can cause smoke to enter the cabin.”

Read the original article People