Delta Air Lines Pilots Take Major Detour on Memphis to Atlanta Flight

ATLANTA- Passengers on a Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Memphis (MEM) to Atlanta (ATL) faced an extended journey as severe storms forced pilots to take a major detour.

The flight, which typically lasts around 45 minutes, ended up more than doubling in duration due to the adverse weather conditions.

Photo: FlightRadar24

Delta Flight Takes Major Detour

Delta Air Lines (DL) flight DL2778 encountered a challenging weather situation on its route from Memphis (MEM) to Atlanta (ATL).

An early spring storm system brought severe thunderstorms and tornado threats across the Midwest and South, prompting Delta’s pilots to take necessary precautions. The storm, described as “potent” by meteorologists, led to major disruptions in the region.

On its outbound journey from Atlanta to Memphis, the Boeing 717 had to make minor adjustments to avoid turbulent weather.

However, by the time the return flight was scheduled, the storm system had intensified significantly.

As a result, the flight departed Memphis over an hour late and had to take an extensive southern detour, flying close to New Orleans before heading back north toward Atlanta.

Photo: Delta N906AT Boeing 717-200 CLE April 2015 | formulanone | Flickr

Flight Path Extended

According to PYOK, the altered route led to a total flight time of 1 hour and 39 minutes, more than double the usual duration.

The decision to take a longer path was necessary to avoid dangerous storm cells, which could have posed serious risks to passengers and crew.

The flight tracking service’s weather overlay illustrated how the aircraft skillfully navigated around the worst-affected areas.

Safety is always a top priority for airlines, and in this instance, the pilots’ decision ensured a smooth and turbulence free flight.

Air traffic controllers also played a crucial role in coordinating the rerouting, ensuring minimal disruption despite the unpredictable weather patterns.

The severe weather that forced Delta’s detour also had devastating effects across multiple states.

Tragically, at least 36 people lost their lives, and around 380,000 customers remained without power as of Sunday.

Utility companies were working tirelessly to restore electricity to affected areas, with many power lines damaged by the storm’s strong winds.

Photo: By AEMoreira042281 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35331110

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted most flight advisories for the Midwest by Sunday afternoon.

However, Florida continued to experience significant air traffic delays as the storm system moved southward, disrupting operations at several airports.

Delta Air Lines (DL) has not issued a formal statement regarding flight DL2778’s extended route, but the event underscores the importance of flight safety measures in adverse weather conditions.

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