A Fort Lauderdale-bound Delta flight made an emergency landing in Atlanta Thursday morning after crew reported a smoky odor onboard.
Flight 1334 had just departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at approximately 7 a.m. When the smell was detected, according to Delta.
The captain immediately turned the aircraft around.
The plane landed safely back at the same airport.
No injuries were reported among the 181 passengers or crew.
“Delta flight 1334 safely returned to Atlanta shortly after departure out of an abundance of caution after a smoky odor was reported onboard,” the airline said in a statement.
“The flight crew followed established procedures, and the aircraft landed normally without incident,” the carrier continued.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the odor.
FOX 5 Atlanta reported the smell appeared to originate from the cockpit area.
It remained unclear whether any passengers required medical evaluation following the emergency landing.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and crew, and we apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels,” Delta added.
Flight tracking data showed the delayed service was expected to depart roughly two and a half hours behind schedule.
The incident marked at least the second Delta emergency return to Atlanta in recent months involving odor concerns.
In the viral moment that preceded this pattern, a July 2025 Delta Flight 1334 from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale diverted to Fort Myers, Florida, after a passenger’s portable lithium battery caught fire mid-flight. Flight attendants extinguished the blaze, but residual smoke forced the emergency landing carrying 185 passengers and six crew. The FAA investigated that incident, which contributed to tightening restrictions on portable chargers across U.S. Aviation.
Delta has faced multiple unrelated in-flight incidents in recent weeks, including a separate Oct. 20 return to Atlanta after a smoky odor on a Los Angeles-bound flight carrying 219 passengers.
The airline emphasized that safety remains its top priority.
Maintenance crews were inspecting the aircraft Thursday.
Passengers were expected to continue to Fort Lauderdale on the delayed service.