Delta passengers evacuated by slide after emergency landing in Atlanta

Passengers aboard an Orlando-bound Delta flight had to evacuate via slide after the aircraft made an emergency landing on a taxiway at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport shortly after takeoff Saturday morning. The aircraft, carrying approximately 200 passengers and six crew members, reported a smoke condition in the flight deck and declared an emergency. Delta flight 2204, which took off from Atlanta shortly before 7:30 a.m., turned back and made an emergency landing. A Delta spokesperson said evacuation slides were deployed and that passengers and crew departed the plane on the taxiway before being bused to the terminal. “The flight crew followed procedures to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after reports of fumes in the flight deck,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “A slide evacuation occurred on a taxiway, and customers are being reaccommodated on a new aircraft. Safety is paramount at Delta, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.” Passengers are being rebooked to Orlando, and the aircraft is undergoing a maintenance review, Delta said.