Washington, DC, May 26 - On February 24, 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight DL876, a Boeing 717-200, experienced a harrowing incident shortly after departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, bound for Columbia, South Carolina. The aircraft, registered as N942AT and powered by two Rolls-Royce BR715-C1 turbofan engines, encountered severe issues that led to an emergency landing back in Atlanta. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), released on May 22, 2025, revealed a critical finding: the right engine’s oil reservoir was found to have “no oil visible” in its sight glass, indicating an oil level at or near zero. This discovery has raised significant concerns about the maintenance and operational oversight of the aircraft, as the investigation into the incident continues.
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The incident began during the takeoff roll, when flight attendants noticed smoke infiltrating the cabin. According to the NTSB report, smoke was observed emanating from the main cabin door and “coming out of all the vents,” creating a dense haze that limited visibility to the point where the lead flight attendant could not see past the first row of seats. The flight crew, preoccupied with flying the aircraft, initially delayed responding to the flight attendants’ attempts to communicate the severity of the situation. As the Boeing 717 climbed, the pilots detected smoke seeping into the cockpit through the flooring, prompting them to don oxygen masks. Concurrently, a low oil pressure warning for the right engine illuminated in the cockpit, a critical alert that led the crew to shut down the affected engine to mitigate further risk.
Faced with restricted visibility due to the smoke and the encumbrance of their oxygen masks, the pilots declared an emergency with air traffic control and made the decision to return to Atlanta. The dense smoke necessitated a change in their landing approach, as visibility was severely compromised. Despite these challenges, the crew managed to land the aircraft safely on Runway 27 at approximately 9:00 a.m. local time. Upon stopping, the pilots opened the cockpit door and were met with a “tremendous” amount of smoke in the cabin, prompting the captain to order an immediate evacuation. The aircraft’s emergency slides were deployed, allowing the 94 passengers and five crew members to exit. Two passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation and were treated and released.
Post-incident examination by maintenance personnel uncovered the alarming absence of oil in the right engine’s reservoir. The NTSB report noted that it remains unclear whether the oil depletion occurred before takeoff or during the flight, and the investigation is ongoing to determine the root cause of the oil loss and its connection to the smoke infiltration. The Boeing 717 involved, a 25.8-year-old aircraft, is part of Delta’s fleet of 80 such planes, which are maintained by the airline’s extensive TechOps division. The incident has drawn attention to the challenges of operating aging aircraft, even as Delta emphasizes rigorous maintenance protocols. The NTSB, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), continues to examine the engine components to identify any mechanical failures or maintenance oversights that may have contributed to the event. This incident follows another notable emergency involving a Delta Boeing 717 in June 2023, when a fractured upper lock link caused a nose landing gear failure, forcing a belly landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While no injuries were reported in that case, it underscored ongoing concerns about the aging Boeing 717 fleet, which has prompted the FAA to propose mandatory inspections for all remaining 717s operated by Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. The February 2025 incident adds to these concerns, highlighting the critical importance of robust maintenance and pre-flight checks to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. As the NTSB’s investigation progresses, its findings are expected to inform future safety directives and maintenance practices for the Boeing 717 and similar aircraft, reinforcing the aviation industry’s commitment to safety in the face of operational challenges.