Delta Flight Makes Emergency Return to Boston After Smoky Odor Detected Onboard, 3 People Receive Medical Attention

A Delta Airlines flight departing from Boston’s Logan Airport on Sunday morning made an unexpected return shortly after takeoff due to a smoky odor detected in the cabin.

The flight, bound for New Orleans, Louisiana, was carrying 87 passengers and five crew members at the time of the incident.

An emergency was declared, giving the flight priority handling from air traffic control.

“Delta flight 1398 returned to Boston shortly after takeoff after a smoky odor was detected in the cabin,” a spokesperson confirmed. “Our flight crew followed established procedures and returned to Boston safely. We sincerely apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.”

Upon safely returning to the gate, the plane was met by emergency response personnel. Three people received medical attention, with one passenger being transported to the hospital, according to a Delta spokesperson. It’s unclear what caused the odor.

This latest scare is just the latest in a long string of aviation incidences. In January, an American Airlines flight and a United States Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over Washington D.C., killing 67 people. Days later, a jet operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance crashed in the Castor Gardens neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, moments after takeoff, killing six people.