Delta Says Hospitalized DL251 Passengers Now Discharged

Delta said Monday the three passengers hospitalized after its Barcelona–Boston flight's smoke emergency in Porto have been discharged as rebooking continues.

Smoke was reported in the cabin as the plane crossed the Atlantic, and it landed safely at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport around 5:45 p.m. local time after departing Barcelona around 3:15 p.m. Emergency personnel met the aircraft on arrival, and Portuguese authorities activated a level 2 alert, briefly suspending air traffic.

The fresh development since the initial emergency coverage came Monday, when Delta officials confirmed that the three passengers who had been taken to hospital in Porto have been discharged, according to The Boston Globe. The Globe also reported that two flight crew members sought medical attention when the plane landed. CBS News, citing Portugal's civil protection service, reported four passengers were treated at hospital for smoke inhalation but were only 'lightly' affected, and NBC News, via Reuters, reported eight passengers were treated on the tarmac while three were taken to hospital.

The diversion is notable for its timing and company context: The Boston Globe points out it came just days after a Delta flight departing Logan International Airport for London turned around Thursday night over reports of an odor on board, though officials said that incident involved a different type of aircraft. CBS News adds that Delta recently had four emergency landings in a one-week span — two due to reports of cabin fumes and two due to apparent pressurization issues. A pattern of smoke, fume and odor events across separate aircraft is what keeps this story drawing attention.

Flight tracking data cited by The Boston Globe (FlightAware) showed the flight took off from Barcelona-El Prat around 3:15 p.m. and landed at Porto three hours and 44 minutes later. Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Notícias reported that as many as 14 passengers received medical attention on the tarmac, while Fox News, citing Portugal's civil protection service via AFP, reported 14 required medical attention with four taken to hospital. Delta spokesperson Grant Myatt said the flight 'landed safely, and we apologize to our customers for the delay.' Because outlet figures differ, the number of people treated should be attributed to each publisher rather than stated as settled.

Delta said it is working to help the 283 passengers on board reach their final destination in Boston, and Fox News reports the airline is rebooking customers on alternative flights. Beyond the immediate disruption, the FAA's guidance quoted by Fox News notes that airlines must report smoke, fume and odor incidents to the agency, which investigates the causes and requires fixes before an aircraft returns to service. The FAA says cabin air 'is as good as or better than the air found in offices and homes,' but that rare mechanical failures such as engine oil seal failures can let fumes enter the cabin — the very scenario DL251's passengers experienced.

The cause of the smoke remains undetermined: Portugal's civil protection service told CBS News the cause was not immediately known, and Delta has described the diversion only as a reported mechanical issue without saying what produced the smoke. The Boston Globe reported that local medical officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the tarmac treatment figures, and Delta officials said smoke, fume and odor events are rare but something the airline takes seriously, noting such odors can originate from many different sources. With the hospitalized passengers discharged, the open questions are the mechanical cause and any FAA review before the aircraft returns to service.