Delta B712 at Atlanta on Feb 24th 2025, haze in cabin
Last Update: May 21, 2025 / 19:18:26 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 24, 2025
Classification
Accident
Airline
Delta Airlines
Flight number
DL-876
Departure
Atlanta, United States
Destination
Columbia, United States
Aircraft Registration
N942AT
Aircraft Type
Boeing 717-200
ICAO Type Designator
B712
On May 21st 2025 the NTSB released their preliminary report summarizing the sequence of events:
On February 24, 2025, at 0848 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 876, a Boeing 717-200, N942AT, experienced smoke in the cabin and cockpit during takeoff from Atlanta Hartsfield/Jackson International Airport (ATL), Atlanta Georgia. The airplane returned to the airport, landed safely, and the crew conducted an emergency evacuation. There were 99 passengers and crew on board, and two passengers received minor injuries during the evacuation. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight from ATL to Columbia Metro Airport (CAE), Columbia, South Carolina.
During the takeoff roll, flight attendants (FA) in both the forward and aft areas of the cabin saw smoke. The two FAs in the forward section first noticed it emanating from the area over the L1 door. The FA In the aft section first noticed it “coming out of all the vents”. Both the FA in the aft section and the lead FA in the forward section attempted to contact the pilots using the emergency call button but did not get a response. They also took turns using the interphone to try and announce to the pilots that there was smoke in the cabin. After takeoff, the lead FA also knocked on the cockpit door.
The aft flight attendant made a public address announcement to the passengers, advised that they were aware of and trained for the situation and to remain calm. The lead FA recalled that the smoke was very thick, and that he was unable to see past the first row of seats. A nonrevenue flight attendant who had been in a jumpseat, self-deployed to the exit row to prevent an unanticipated evacuation, or assist in evacuation if one ensued.
The pilots reported that just as the airplane rotated for takeoff, they heard the flight attendant call chime and knocking on the flight deck door. Shortly thereafter smoke was visible rising from the floor near the rear of the cockpit. They donned their oxygen masks and initially delayed responding to the flight attendant calls, as the captain focused on flying the airplane while first officer declared an emergency with air traffic control.
Shortly after takeoff, a master caution alert for smoke detected in the forward lavatory occurred. The first officer began the quick reference handbook (QRH) checklist for this alert and then attempted to communicate with the cabin crew using the handset phone. He recalled that he could hear the cabin crew, but when he spoke, they could not hear him. As the lead FA began to unlock the cockpit door, he was able to hear the first officer on the interphone advise that the pilots were aware and returning to the airport. The lead FA then relayed that information to the other cabin crew and passengers.
Soon after, an alarm warning of low oil pressure for the right engine occurred in the cockpit. The crew performed the QRH procedure which ultimately led them to shut down the right engine.
As the airplane was returning to the airport, the captain elected to change the approach from runway 27R to 27L “in order to get glidepath guidance since our visibility was restricted due to the smoke and the facemask”. The remainder of the approach and landing were uneventful.
The crew stopped the airplane on the runway after landing and the airport rescue and fire fighting vehicles arrived soon after. The pilots opened the flight deck door, noticed a “tremendous” amount of smoke in the cabin, and the captain immediately ordered an evacuation. The aft FA coordinated the evacuation through the tailcone door with no anomalies. The lead FA managed door 1L, which he initially had some difficulty opening but succeeded on his 3rd attempt. The 3rd FA managed the evacuation through the 1R door with no anomalies.
The non-revenue FA managed the overwing emergency exits evacuation. She remained on the wing with some passengers who were unable to jump from the wing to the ground. The airplane does not have evacuation slides for the overwing exits, the egress path is to slide down the trailing edge of the wing. The wing flaps were extended to 25° prior to the evacuation (in accordance with the checklist) to reduce the height from the wing to ground.
She coordinated with the other three FAs and they determined at that time, because there were no remaining risks inside or outside the cabin, the passengers remaining on both wings could reenter the cabin and evacuate using the 3 usable deployed doors slides.
The airplane was equipped with Rolls Royce model BR715-C1 engines. During a post incident examination, maintenance personnel found no oil visible in the sight glass of the right engine oil reservoir, indicating the quantity was at or near zero. Examination of the right engine’s components continues.
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 24, 2025
Classification
Accident
Airline
Delta Airlines
Flight number
DL-876
Departure
Atlanta, United States
Destination
Columbia, United States
Aircraft Registration
N942AT
Aircraft Type
Boeing 717-200
ICAO Type Designator
B712
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Delta A339 over Atlantic on May 2nd 2026, engine problem
A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-900, registration N429DX performing flight DL-59 from London Heathrow,EN (UK) to Boston,MA (USA) with 275 people on…
Fleet type match
Delta A319 enroute on Mar 19th 2026, generator problems, RAT deployed
A Delta Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N334NB performing flight DL-521 from Los Angeles,CA to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) with 131 passengers…
Delta A321 near Milwaukee on Apr 26th 2026, smoke and fire on board
A Delta Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N359DN performing flight DL-2309 from Minneapolis,MN to Orlando,FL (USA) with 137 people on board, was…
Fleet type match
Delta B712 at Louisville on Apr 26th 2026, engine compressor stall
A Delta Airlines Boeing 717-200, registration N899AT performing flight DL-2801 from Louisville,KY to Atlanta,GA (USA), was climbing out of…
Fleet type match
Delta A333 at Sao Paulo on Mar 29th 2026, engine failure starts fire on ground
A Delta Airlines Airbus A330-300, registration N813NW performing flight DL-104 from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP (Brazil) to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 272…
Newest articles
Fleet type match
KLM B772 at Amsterdam on May 7th 2026, hydraulic leak
A KLM Boeing 777-200, registration PH-BQF performing flight KL-569 (dep May 6th) from Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was on…
Fleet type match
Frontier A21N at Denver on May 8th 2026, gone wrong
A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-200N, registration N646FR performing flight F9-4345 from Denver,CO to Los Angeles,CA (USA) with 224 passengers and 7…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways