Florida, United States: A Delta Air Lines flight from Orlando to Los Angeles made an emergency diversion to Tampa International Airport on Saturday, December 27, 2025, after the cabin crew detected an unusual odor onboard, airline officials confirmed.
Delta Flight DL504, operated with an Airbus A321neo (registration N503DZ), departed Orlando International Airport (MCO) bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) when the crew identified the scent mid‑flight and elected to divert the aircraft as a precautionary safety measure.
The aircraft touched down at Tampa International Airport at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time, with 194 passengers and six crew members onboard. No injuries were reported during the landing or among those who disembarked.
Delta officials stated that passengers were re‑accommodated on a different aircraft that later continued to Los Angeles. “At Delta, the safety of our customers and crew comes before anything else, and we appreciate our customers’ patience,” the airline said in a written statement.
At the time of reporting, the airline had not disclosed the cause or specific nature of the odor detected onboard. Aviation safety databases indicate that the flight was en route over Florida when the issue emerged and the diversion was initiated out of an abundance of caution
