TERRIFIED Delta Air Lines passengers were forced to evacuate a plane after smoke filled the cabin at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Boeing 717-200 was going to Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina when the horror incident unfolded.
![[Smoke filling airplane cabin.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/image_25480f.png?strip=all&w=609)
The flight landed at around 9am with all 94 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants forced to flee the aircraft using the emergency exit slides. Unbelievable images show passengers stood on the left wing of the aircraft, clutching their belongings, as they desperately fled the aircraft.
![[Delta flight making an emergency landing.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/6e9a7346-6c21-44f1-a0ad-c77072a65afb_45ad6d.jpg?strip=all&w=695)
The Federal Aviation Administration said: "Delta Air Lines Flight 876 returned safely to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 9 a.m. local time on Monday, February 24, after the crew reported possible smoke in the flightdeck.". Crew members reported the smoke shortly after takeoff, with an emergency declared to get priority handling from air traffic control.
![[Passenger on Delta flight DL876 from Atlanta to Columbia, South Carolina covering her mouth and nose due to haze in the cabin.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/797d9001-d375-4ca0-abe1-5f135c1b7ca2_1d3e57.jpg?strip=all&w=593)
A Delta spokesperson said: "The flight crew followed procedures to return to Atlanta when a haze inside the aircraft was observed after departure. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize to our customers for the experience.".
![[Delta flight returning to Atlanta airport after reporting haze in the cabin.]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/02/d1f9d506-a1a3-4429-be48-939ebe8946dc.jpg?strip=all&w=696)
Passengers had to use their clothes to cover their faces as the terrifying haze filled the cabin, footage shows. The airline added that teams brought customers to the terminal via ground transportation and they are working to get the passengers rebooked on other flights.
