Delta Air Lines flight forced to divert after mysterious odour reported in cockpit

A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Detroit was forced to divert to North Carolina after the crew reported an unusual odour in the cockpit and declared an emergency. Flight 337 had departed Orlando on Thursday and was en route to Detroit Metropolitan Airport when it was diverted to Charlotte.

The aircraft landed safely at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, according to Delta and airport officials. The flight was carrying 187 passengers and six crew members at the time of the incident. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and we apologize for their experience and delay in travel," Delta said in a statement. The airline said passengers were provided with hotel accommodation and meal vouchers overnight.

The flight is expected to continue to Detroit on Friday. Delta has not disclosed what caused the odour, and the source of the smell remains unknown. A spokesperson said the aircraft is undergoing evaluation following the diversion. The incident is the latest in a series of similar cases involving unusual smells reported on Delta flights in recent months. In April, a Delta flight travelling to Seattle made an emergency landing in the San Francisco Bay Area after a strange odour was detected in the cabin. Two other incidents involving unusual smells on Delta aircraft were also reported in December last year.