The flight headed from Orlando to Los Angeles was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tampa on Dec. 27

A Delta aircraft photographed on Dec. 22, 2025.Credit : Austin DeSisto/NurPhoto via Getty

A Delta Air Lines flight heading to Los Angeles made an emergency landing after the cabin crew detected an unusual odor in the plane.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a Delta spokesperson said Flight DL504 was headed from Orlando to Los Angeles before being diverted and making an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport at around 11:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 27.

The Airbus A321 made the emergency landing “out of an abundance of caution after the flight crew detected an odor onboard,” the spokesperson said.

At the time, 194 passengers and six crew members were onboard.

“Customers were accommodated on an alternate aircraft and departed for Los Angeles earlier this afternoon,” the Delta spokesperson said, noting the flight departed Tampa shortly after 3 p.m. and arrived at Los Angeles International Airport at 5:40 p.m. local time.

The control tower at Tampa International Airport photographed on Nov. 6, 2025. Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Officials have not said if the cause of the odor is known.

“At Delta, the safety of our customers and crew comes before anything else, and we appreciate our customers’ patience,” the Delta spokesperson added.

This weekend’s incident comes just weeks after a similar incident involving a strange odor as a Delta plane was landing in Texas.

On Dec. 16, a Delta flight landing in Texas requested emergency services after reporting an “unknown odor or fumes” inside the cabin.

When the aircraft arrived at San Antonio International Airport, five individuals reported falling ill. The San Antonio Fire Department told PEOPLE at the time that “notes indicated an unknown odor or fumes inside the cabin” of the inbound Delta plane.

When the aircraft landed safely, all off-airport units were canceled with the exception of one EMS team.

The EMS and four airport fire department units then evaluated five individuals from the flight “who were reportedly not feeling well,” according to the statement.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a notice on Sept. 4 stating that studies have shown aircraft cabin air is “as good or better than the air found in offices and homes.” However, rare “mechanical issues such as failures of an engine oil seal or recirculation fan bearing can cause fumes to enter the cabin.”