Delta Flight Makes Dramatic Emergency Landing After Mid-Air Engine Failure, All Passengers Safe

Delta Air Lines faces fresh scrutiny after another in-flight emergency forced pilots to divert and land a jet packed with summer travelers. Key facts • Flight: Delta Flight 1334, Boeing 757-200 • Route: Atlanta (ATL) → Fort Lauderdale (FLL) • Diversion: Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers (RSW) • Reason: Passenger’s lithium-ion battery ignited, filling cabin with smoke • People on board: 185 passengers, 6 crew • Injuries: None reported • Status: FAA investigation under way What happened Roughly 40 minutes after take-off Monday morning, a backpack began smoking in the economy cabin. Flight attendants identified a “probable burning personal battery,” sealed the device in a fire-retardant containment bag and alerted the cockpit. Because residual smoke persisted, the crew declared an emergency and diverted to Fort Myers, where firefighters met the aircraft on the runway. Passengers disembarked normally and were rebooked later that day. Crew response Delta praised its flight attendants for “quick work and actions to follow their training,” while mechanics removed the 757 from service for inspection. The airline has started compensating affected customers and reminding travelers that spare lithium batteries must remain in carry-on bags with terminals taped or in original packaging. Regulatory probe The FAA’s hazardous-materials team is interviewing the passenger who owned the device and examining the burnt cells to determine whether they exceeded the 100-watt-hour limit or showed signs of damage prior to boarding. The agency says lithium-battery fires have triggered at least 35 diversions industry-wide so far in 2025. Pattern of incidents Monday’s scare came hours after Delta Flight 127, an Airbus A330 from Madrid to New York, diverted to Portugal’s Azores following an engine-performance warning. All 282 passengers spent the night on Terceira Island before continuing to JFK the next day. Why lithium batteries are risky When damaged or improperly packed, rechargeable cells can enter “thermal runaway,” reaching 1,000°F in seconds. Modern jets carry fire-proof containment bags, but crews still have minutes to contain smoke before it overwhelms ventilation systems. Travel tips to avoid battery fires • Carry spare batteries in cabin luggage; never check them. • Cover exposed terminals with tape. • Power down devices you are not using. • Replace swollen or damaged batteries immediately. • Inform cabin crew at the first sign of smoke or heat. Bottom line No one was hurt aboard Flight 1334, yet the smoky cabin underscores how quickly a single battery can disrupt hundreds of travel plans. With the FAA investigating and the summer rush cresting, Delta and federal regulators are urging passengers to double-check every gadget before stepping on board.