Delta Flight Brakes Before Takeoff – Mexico City Runway Incident
Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Atlanta After mid-Air Scare
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Passengers and Crew Safe After Incident Over Mexico
Atlanta, GA – A Delta flight carrying passengers and crew made a safe emergency landing in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon following an unspecified incident that occurred mid-air. The flight, which had departed from Mexico, landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at 3:20 p.m. ET, according to Delta.
Delta Cooperating with Investigations
Delta has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding the flight. “Because nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, Delta will fully cooperate with authorities as the circumstances around this flight are investigated,” a Delta spokesperson stated. “We appreciate the flight crew’s actions to maintain situational awareness and act quickly – part of Delta’s extensive training.”
In the wake of the incident, Delta confirmed it has filed reports with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Management (FAA), and Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation agency, the country’s aviation regulator.
Aeromexico Also Investigating
Aeromexico, the other airline involved in the incident, also issued a statement emphasizing it’s commitment to safety and its cooperation with the inquiry.”At Aeromexico, the safety of our customers and employees is, and will always be, our highest priority,” the airline said. Mexican aviation authorities had no comment when contacted by CBS News.
Recent Aviation Incidents Highlight Safety Concerns
This incident comes just days after a separate aviation event involving a SkyWest flight, operating as Delta Connection. The pilot of that flight apologized to passengers after performing what he described as an “aggressive maneuver” while approaching a runway in Minot,North Dakota. The pilot explained the maneuver was necessary to avoid a U.S. Air Force B-52 Bomber that appeared to be on a converging course. The Air Force stated its flight crew was in interaction with air traffic control but was not informed about the presence of the airliner.
The SkyWest flight, which originated from minneapolis, carried 76 passengers and four crew members. Both SkyWest and the FAA are currently investigating that separate incident.
By Kris Van cleave
Emmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave is the senior transportation correspondent for CBS News based in Phoenix, Arizona, where he also serves as a national correspondent reporting for all CBS News broadcasts and platforms.