Delta A320-200 Diverts to Raleigh-Durham Due to Fumes on the Flight Deck

A Delta Air Lines A320-200 enroute from Atlanta to Washington DC diverted to Raleigh/Durham after reporting fumes on the flight deck on 6 November.

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-200 en route from Atlanta, GA to Washington National, DC diverted to Raleigh-Durham after reporting fumes on the flight deck on 6 November 2024.

Delta Air Lines flight DL850, operated by an Airbus A320-200, had departed from Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The aircraft was performing a schedule service to Washington National Airport (DCA).

Delta DL850 Atlanta-Washington

Flight track of Delta Air Lines DL850 showing diversion to Raleigh-Durham.

Whilst the aircraft was en route in the cruise over North Carolina, flight crew reported the presence of fumes on the flight deck.

Flight crew made the decision to conduct a precautionary diversion to nearby Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The aircraft landed without further incident on runway 23R Raleigh/ Durham, approximately 30 minutes after initiating the diversion.

A subsequent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report confirmed the in-flight incident. “Delta Air Lines Flight 850 landed safely at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Nov. 6, after the crew reported fumes in the flight deck.”

“The Airbus A320 departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and was traveling to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA will investigate.”

Flight Details

Flight data shows that flight DL850 had made an on-time departure out of Atlanta at 1545 local time on six November. The flight had then set course normally, climbing to flight level FL310 for the north-easterly service to Washington, DC.

InSapphoWeTrust from Los Angeles, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The flight had passed to the north-east of Raleigh-Durham when the diversion was initiated. The aircraft conducting the DL850 service to Washington was an Airbus A320-200, registered N329NW. This is a 32.7-year-old narrowbody aircraft belonging to the carrier Delta Air Lines.

It has been in operational service with the airline since October 2008. Prior to its present service, it was operated by Northwest Airlines from its initial delivery from the factory in May 1992.