Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about a Delta flight that had to make an emergency return to Atlanta due to smoke in the cockpit. I mean, that’s not exactly what you want to hear when you’re cruising at 30,000 feet. The flight, Delta 2204, was headed to Orlando, but it ended up going back to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after the crew reported fumes in the flight deck. I can only imagine the look on the passengers’ faces when they heard the announcement to evacuate the plane immediately.
The air traffic control audio is pretty intense, with the controller saying, “Delta 2204, change of plans. We now have smoke in the back, and we need to deplane immediately.” I’m no expert, but that sounds like a pretty big deal. The flight crew followed procedures, and the plane was evacuated on a taxiway using slides. I’m sure it was a real thrill ride for the 199 passengers and six crew members on board.
Delta Air Lines released a statement saying that safety is paramount, and they apologize to their customers for the experience. Well, I should hope so. I mean, who wants to evacuate a plane via slide in the middle of a taxiway? The passengers and crew were taken back to the terminal on a bus, which I’m sure was a nice, calm ending to a pretty chaotic morning.
The flight took off at 7:23 a.m. and was supposed to head to Orlando, but it ended up being a very short trip. I’m just glad everyone got out safely. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and I’m sure it will make for a great story on the evening news.
As I finish reading this story, I have to chuckle at the thought of all those passengers sliding down the inflatable slides and then getting on a bus to head back to the terminal. It’s definitely not the way you want to start your day, but at least everyone is safe. And let’s be real, it’s not every day you get to evacuate a plane via slide, so I’m sure it will be a story to tell for years to come. The incident is still being investigated, but for now, it’s just a wild story about a flight that didn’t quite go as planned.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
