Three passengers were hospitalized and eight others treated on the tarmac after smoke filled the cabin of Delta Flight DL251, which diverted from Barcelona and made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal. The Airbus A330 carried 283 passengers and 13 crew; Delta said those hospitalized were "lightly" affected and apologized for travel delays. The FAA requires clean cabin air systems and mandates reporting when smoke enters the cabin. Authorities and Delta are investigating the source of the smoke; the incident follows a separate Delta pressurization event in early September.
Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Porto After Cabin Fills With Smoke; Three Hospitalized
Three passengers were hospitalized after a Delta Air Lines jet bound for Boston made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal (CBS Boston/Youtube)
Three passengers were hospitalized and several others treated on the tarmac after smoke filled the cabin of Delta Air Lines Flight DL251, forcing the Airbus A330 to make an emergency landing at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, Portugal.
Flight DL251 departed Barcelona at about 3:15 p.m. local time bound for Boston but diverted to Porto, where it landed shortly before 6 p.m., according to FlightRadar24 tracking data. An official from the Portuguese National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection told Reuters that eight passengers were treated on the apron and at least three were transported to hospital.
In comments to CBS News, a Delta spokesperson said those taken to hospital were "lightly" affected. The airline confirmed the aircraft was carrying 283 passengers and 13 crew members. Video obtained by CBS Boston showed emergency-service vehicles around the jet and ground staff in high-visibility jackets assisting passengers as they disembarked via stairs.
The plane's cabin had filled with smoke, forcing the plane to land just hours after leaving Barcelona (CBS Boston/Youtube)
"The flight landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels as we work to get them to Boston as safely and quickly as possible," a Delta spokesperson told The Hill.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration requires ventilation systems to provide clean air for passengers and crew and requires manufacturers to demonstrate that cabin air remains free of "harmful or hazardous concentrations of smoke, vapor, or toxic or noxious fumes" in normal operations and under probable failure conditions. FAA guidance also requires airlines to file a Service Difficulty Report if smoke enters the cockpit or cabin.
The Independent has contacted the FAA, Delta Air Lines and Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport for further comment. Portuguese emergency services managed the on-site response while airline and aviation authorities investigate the source of the smoke and the events that led to the diversion.
Context: Recent Delta Pressurization Incident
The Porto diversion comes weeks after a separate Delta flight experienced a rapid descent on September 6 after a pressurization issue. That aircraft descended about 27,000 feet in roughly 10 minutes before making an emergency landing in Las Vegas. Audio from that flight—Delta 2311, operating LAX to SLC—captured crew requesting a rapid descent and confirming oxygen mask deployment; Delta said the crew followed procedures to protect passengers and safely stabilize the flight.
Authorities and Delta investigators will determine the cause of the smoke and whether maintenance, equipment failure, or other factors contributed. Delta has reiterated that safety is its top priority and that crews are trained to follow established protocols during in-flight emergencies.
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