A Delta flight was forced to make an emergency landing due to a strange odor in the cabin. Flight crew detected the weird smell and chose to ground the flight out of an abundance of caution.
Speaking with People, a Delta spokesperson weighed in on what happened. The flight had been headed to Los Angeles from Orlando. But the plane didn't make it out of Florida. The flight made an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport. The incident happened on December 27. Delta Flight DL504 had to make a landing.
The spokesperson confirmed the plan landed "out of an abundance of caution after the flight crew detected an odor onboard." There had been 194 passengers and six crew members on board.
Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing
"Customers were accommodated on an alternate aircraft and departed for Los Angeles earlier this afternoon," the Delta spokesperson said. "At Delta, the safety of our customers and crew comes before anything else, and we appreciate our customers' patience."
Fortunately, they managed to address the issue. But the company chose not to reveal the cause of the odor. The Delta flight took off that afternoon and landed shortly later at its original destination.
It's not the first time a strange odor has grounded a Delta flight. Just weeks prior, a Delta flight made an emergency landing in Texas for a similar incident. The flight landed at San Antonio International Airport. Five people fell ill on the flight. Officials "indicated an unknown odor or fumes inside the cabin."
EMS and also fire department workers came to the aid of the people on board. Five people needed medical treatment for "reportedly not feeling well."
The Federal Aviation Administration noted previously that "mechanical issues such as failures of an engine oil seal or recirculation fan bearing can cause fumes to enter the cabin." This may be the cause of strange odors or smells in the cabin.
