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Air pressure issue causes Delta flight headed to Fort Lauderdale to divert to Tampa

Data shows plane dropped 29,000 ft. in 8 minutes
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Posted at 8:36 AM, Sep 19, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-19 09:22:23-04

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Delta Air Lines diverted an Atlanta flight headed to Florida after an unknown issue caused the cabin's oxygen masks to be released.

News outlets report the Fort Lauderdale-bound plane made an emergency landing at Tampa International Airport about an hour after it left Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

According to data posted on Flightaware.com the plane descended from 39,000 feet at 4:34 p.m. to 9,975 feet at 4:42 p.m. At 4:54 p.m., the plane was diverted to Tampa.

A statement by Delta says the plane was diverted out of an abundance of caution over the "cabin pressure irregularity." It says the plane is now being evaluated by maintenance technicians.

Delta said the passengers were bused about four hours to their original destination.