Las Vegas, United States: Delta Air Lines Flight DL2311 made a rapid emergency descent of approximately 27,000 feet after an unexpected pressurization issue triggered the deployment of passenger oxygen masks, forcing the Los Angeles-to-Salt Lake City flight to divert to Las Vegas on September 6, 2026.
The Boeing 737-900 operating the flight departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at approximately 4:54 p.m. local time on Sunday, September 6, bound for Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and six crew members.
About halfway through the scheduled one-hour-and-22-minute journey, the aircraft was flying at approximately 36,200 feet when the pressurization issue occurred. Flight data showed the aircraft descending to 9,000 feet over approximately 10 minutes, a reduction in altitude of around 27,000 feet.
Passenger oxygen masks deployed in the cabin during the emergency descent. Air traffic control communications recorded during the incident captured the crew reporting the situation and requesting an immediate descent toward Las Vegas.
“Delta 2311 is currently in rapid descent. We’d like to get down to 9,000 and we’re direct to Las Vegas,” a pilot said.
When an air traffic controller asked, “Is the oxygen deployed?” the pilot responded, “Affirmative.”
Delta said the emergency descent followed an unexpected pressurization issue. The airline has not publicly disclosed the specific technical cause behind the pressurization problem.
“As safety comes before everything else at Delta, the flight crew of Delta flight 2311 LAX-SLC followed their training and procedures to safely bring the aircraft to optimal altitude when an unexpected pressurization issue occurred,” a Delta spokesperson said.
The aircraft diverted to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas and landed safely at approximately 6:16 p.m. local time. Passengers deplaned normally after landing, and Delta arranged another aircraft for passengers to continue their journey to Salt Lake City.
“Delta sincerely apologizes to our customers for their experience and thanks our flight crews and other support teams on the ground for their professionalism,” the spokesperson added.
The rapid descent attracted widespread attention because of the significant altitude change within a short period. However, aviation safety procedures require crews dealing with a serious cabin pressurization problem at cruising altitude to descend quickly to an altitude where occupants can breathe safely without relying on supplemental oxygen.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a lack of adequate oxygen can result in hypoxia, a condition caused by an insufficient supply of oxygen to the body.
Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, a retired US A Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot with nearly 40 years of flying experience, told Fox News Digital, describing such a pressurization occurrence as “an extremely rare issue” in the United States.
Buckley said that in such circumstances, pilots would need “to land as soon as practical, meaning, what’s the closest airfield with a nice, long, suitable runway where we can get this thing on the ground safely.”
The specific technical reason for the unexpected pressurization problem has not yet been publicly disclosed. The aircraft landed safely in Las Vegas, with no injuries reported in the information released by Delta.
