Delta flight makes emergency landing over engine issues after smoke fills cabin

A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday after the plane’s cabin appeared to fill with smoke, the airline said.

Delta Flight 2846 was on its way to Los Angeles International Airport from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when what a Delta spokesperson described as a smoky odor started to fill the cabin.

Flight crew members also noticed a performance issue with one of the aircraft’s two engines, prompting the diversion, the spokesperson said Tuesday. It was unclear whether the smoke was related to the engine issue.

“Everything was normal, and then suddenly there was smoke in the cabin,” said Mason Weiner, a passenger on the flight who captured video of faint smoke flooding the plane.

“Someone started yelling there was a fire, but the flight attendants (in a very professional way) told everyone to chill, it wasn’t a fire, and keep seated,” Weiner said.

The plane landed safely at Albuquerque International Sunport, and Delta said its teams were arranging for the flight to continue on another aircraft due to arrive in Albuquerque later Tuesday evening. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for updates early Wednesday.

Weiner said the plane was met by a “full welcome of fire trucks and everything” when it landed in Albuquerque. He said he and other passengers were waiting for a new plane to arrive to take them to Los Angeles. He said Delta “ordered Chick-fil-A for everyone.”

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew. That’s why our flight crew followed procedures to safely divert today’s flight 2846 to Albuquerque,” the Delta spokesperson said, apologizing for the delay to passengers’ travel plans.