Delta Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Cabin Crew Smelled Strange Odor on Plane

YOU NEED TO KNOW

• A Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing after cabin crew detected an unusual odor

• The flight, headed from Orlando to Los Angeles, was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tampa around 11:30 am local time on Saturday, December 27.

• A Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE that 194 passengers and six crew members were aboard the Airbus A321, and the diversion was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Los Angeles made an emergency landing after the cabin crew detected an unusual odor in the plane.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a Delta spokesperson said that Flight DL504 was headed from Orlando to Los Angeles before it was diverted and made an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport around 11:30 am local time on Saturday, December 27th.

The Airbus A321 made the emergency landing “out of an abundance of caution after the flight crew detected an odor on board,” the spokesman said.

At the time, 194 passengers and six crew members were on board.

“Customers were accommodated on an alternate flight and departed for Los Angeles earlier this afternoon,” the Delta spokesperson said, noting that the flight left Tampa shortly after 3 pm and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 5:40 pm local time.

Officials have not said if the cause of the smell is known.

“At Delta, the safety of our customers and crew comes before anything else, and we appreciate our customers’ patience,” the Delta spokesperson added.

This weekend’s incident comes just weeks after a similar incident involving a strange smell as a Delta plane was landing in Texas.

On December 16, a Delta flight landing in Texas called for emergency services after reporting an “unknown odor or fumes” inside the cabin.

When the plane arrived at San Antonio International Airport, five individuals reported becoming ill. The San Antonio Fire Department told PEOPLE at the time that “notes indicated an unknown odor or fumes inside the cabin” of the incoming Delta plane.

When the aircraft landed safely, all units outside the airport were called off with the exception of one EMS team.

EMS and four airport fire department units then evaluated five individuals from the flight “who were reportedly not feeling well,” according to the statement.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice on September 4 saying that studies have shown that aircraft cabin air is “as good or better than the air found in offices and homes.” However, “rare mechanical issues such as engine oil seal or recirculation fan bearing failures can cause fumes to enter the cabin.”

Read the original article on People