Delta Flight DL251 Diverts to Porto After Cabin Smoke; 14 Treated on September 28

Delta Air Lines flight DL251, an Airbus A330 carrying 296 passengers, diverted to Porto, Portugal on Sunday after smoke filled the cabin roughly two and a half hours into its flight from Barcelona to Boston. Fourteen passengers required medical treatment on the ground, with four hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The cause of the mechanical issue remains under investigation.

What happened during the flight

Flight DL251 departed Barcelona at 3:15 p.m. local time on Sunday and reached a maximum altitude of approximately 32,000 feet before the crew detected smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto at 5:45 p.m., about two and a half hours after takeoff. Twelve passengers required oxygen during the flight, according to local reports.

Medical response and passenger treatment

Eight passengers received treatment on the tarmac at Porto airport immediately after landing. Four people, including three passengers and one flight attendant, were taken to a local hospital for further care. A hospital spokesperson told Portuguese media that two male passengers admitted to the emergency department had mild respiratory symptoms from smoke inhalation and remained in stable condition.

What Delta said about the incident

Delta confirmed the emergency landing was due to a mechanical issue that caused smoke in the cabin. The airline said the plane landed safely and that the cause of the incident was not immediately known. Flight data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft reached 32,000 feet before diverting. Delta canceled a scheduled Boston-bound flight from Porto on Monday and will operate a replacement flight from Barcelona at 3:15 p.m. Monday.

Pattern of smoke incidents on Delta flights

This diversion marks the second smoke-related emergency for Delta in recent weeks. On August 13, a Delta flight from Atlanta returned to Hartsfield-Jackson airport after just 15 minutes due to a smoky smell onboard. The airline stated it returned “out of an abundance of caution.” The September 28 incident also follows a similar event on Alaska Airlines Flight 803 on September 24, when an unknown odor was reported and several passengers became ill during a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Final Thoughts

Delta’s second smoke-related diversion in six weeks raises questions about maintenance protocols. With 14 passengers treated and the cause still unknown, the airline faces potential scrutiny from aviation regulators and passengers.

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