Delta Air Lines passengers evacuated onto a taxiway at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after a Boeing 757 operating Flight 2204 to Orlando returned shortly after takeoff because of reported smoke in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely in Atlanta and the evacuation took place using emergency slides, with 199 passengers and six crew members on board.
One crew member and one passenger sought medical attention after the incident. Delta arranged for customers to continue their journey on another aircraft, while the Boeing 757 was set for maintenance inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation into the occurrence.
The flight departed Atlanta in the morning and turned back within about half an hour, according to flight-tracking data cited in local reporting. The cause of the fumes or smoke had not been identified in the available information, and no serious injuries were reported.