Delta Air Lines flight DL 144, carrying 296 passengers, diverted to Porto Airport on Sunday after smoke was detected in the cabin. The aircraft was en route from Barcelona to Boston when the crew aborted the flight and landed safely in northern Portugal.
The civil protection service reported that 14 passengers required medical attention; four were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, but all were treated as lightly affected. No fatalities were recorded, and the cabin crew managed to maintain order during the emergency.
The cause of the smoke remains unknown, and the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority has opened a probe into the incident. Delta has not yet issued a statement, but officials say the airline will cooperate fully with investigators.
Passengers were transported to the airport’s medical facility, where they received initial treatment before being released. The incident has prompted questions about cabin safety standards on international routes.
The investigation will determine whether maintenance or a system failure triggered the smoke, and it will inform future regulatory actions. Passengers awaiting rebooking will be monitored for any long‑term health effects.