A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to divert its route after it plunged 27,000 feet following the deployment of oxygen masks in the cabin midair on September 6, 2026. Delta Flight 2311 descended, triggering the flight crew to bring the plane to a lower altitude and divert to Las Vegas, the airline has confirmed. There were 174 passengers and six crew members onboard the aircraft.

Flight 2311 took off from Los Angeles and was en route to Salt Lake City, abruptly descending in just under 10 minutes. "As safety comes before everything else at Delta, the flight crew of Delta Flight 2311 followed their training and procedures to safely bring the aircraft to an optimal altitude when an unexpected pressurization issue occurred," a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines told Fox News Digital.

Radio communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers surfaced online, featuring the pilot stating, "Delta 2311 currently in rapid descent. We'd like to get down to 9,000, and we're direct to Las Vegas." When an air traffic controller asked, "Is the oxygen deployed?" the pilot responded, "Affirmative."

The aircraft ultimately made a safe landing following the midair scare at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where passengers deplaned normally, according to the airline. Authorities are reviewing the incident to determine the exact cause of the sudden pressurization drop.