A Delta Air Lines flight from Barcelona to Boston made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal, on Sunday afternoon, September 27, after smoke filled the cabin, according to Reuters and Portuguese authorities. At least three passengers were taken to hospital.
What Happened
Flight DL251, an Airbus A330, left Barcelona at about 3:15 p.m. local time bound for Boston Logan International Airport. Roughly two and a half hours after takeoff, the crew reported a mechanical issue and diverted to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, where it landed safely at about 5:45 p.m. local time, according to Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters. Delta confirmed the diversion, saying the flight landed safely after the reported mechanical issue.
Who Was Hurt
A spokesperson for Portugal's emergency and civil protection authority told Reuters that eight passengers were treated on the tarmac and three others were taken to hospital. The spokesperson said the forced landing was due to smoke in the cabin. Counts differ slightly between outlets: AFP, also citing Portugal's civil protection service, reported that 14 passengers needed help after landing and four went to hospital with light smoke inhalation. Reports put the number of people aboard at about 296 passengers. Officials described the symptoms as light, and nobody was reported to be seriously hurt. Officials said the numbers could change as counts are updated.
What We Don't Know Yet
The cause of the smoke has not been announced. Delta has described the issue only as mechanical, and People reported it had reached out to the airline for more detail. Smoke in a cabin can point to an electrical fault, overheating equipment, or a fire behind panels, which is why crews are trained to land at the nearest suitable airport rather than continue. Diverting to Porto before the Atlantic crossing meant the crew had a runway close at hand.
A Second Air-Quality Scare in the Same Week
The incident came days after a separate episode on Alaska Airlines Flight 803, traveling from Los Angeles to Honolulu on Thursday, September 24. The airline confirmed an unknown odor was reported during that flight and several people began feeling ill, and Honolulu emergency medical services responded to meet the plane at the airport. Nothing in the reporting links the two events, and the cause of each remains unconfirmed.
What's Next
Portuguese investigators and Delta are expected to look into what produced the smoke, and passengers will need to be rebooked on onward travel to Boston. Delta has not yet said how it is handling the affected travelers. For continuing coverage, see the full Reuters report.