A Delta plane scheduled to fly from Atlanta to Sacramento with 155 passengers on board had to return to the gate shortly after departure when the captain detected a smoky odor in the cockpit, airline officials say.

The Saturday morning incident involved Flight 2581, a Boeing 737-800, according to Delta Air Lines spokesman Paul Skrbec.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the captain elected (to) return to the gate and advised emergency ground personnel,” Skrbec said in a released statement.

All passengers deplaned without incident and were put on later available flights. The aircraft is currently in maintenance, Skrbec said.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Ernie Suggs, a reporter at the AJC since 1997, reviews a selection of articles he has contributed to during his time with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images