A Delta Air Lines flight bound for the Bahamas made a precautionary return to New York after smoke was reported in the cockpit—an incident that unfolded just hours before a far more serious accident at the same airport.
On Mar 22nd 2026, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A220-100, registration N118DU, operating flight DL-1770 from LaGuardia Airport to Nassau, was climbing out of runway 13 when the crew encountered the issue.
The climb was halted at approximately 6,000 feet after smoke was detected in the cockpit. Following standard procedures, the crew assessed the situation and elected to return to the departure airport as a precaution.
Roughly 15 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft landed safely back on runway 22 at LaGuardia. There were no reports of injuries, and passengers disembarked normally.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crew’s report of smoke in the cockpit and stated that an investigation into the occurrence has been initiated.
This incident occurred about nine hours before a fatal runway collision at the same airport involving a regional jet and a fire truck, highlighting a day of significant operational challenges at LaGuardia.
A replacement Airbus A220-100, registration N131DU, was dispatched and completed the flight to Nassau, arriving with a delay of approximately six hours.
The affected aircraft remained on the ground in New York for about 25 hours following the return as maintenance teams conducted inspections and addressed the issue.