Delta Flight 2311, en route from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City on September 6, experienced a rapid descent of approximately 27,000 feet in 10 minutes due to a pressurization issue. The incident triggered the sudden deployment of oxygen masks in the cabin, forcing the crew to divert the flight to Las Vegas.
The aircraft landed safely at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where 174 passengers and six crew members disembarked normally. Delta stated that the flight crew followed their training and procedures to bring the aircraft to an optimal altitude during the unexpected pressurization problem. A spokesperson for Delta apologized to the passengers for the experience and commended the flight crew and ground teams for their professionalism.
Another aircraft was provided for passengers to continue their journey. Communications between the pilots and air traffic control captured the situation, with a pilot reporting a "rapid descent" and requesting to descend to 9,000 feet while heading to Las Vegas. When queried about the oxygen deployment, the pilot confirmed it was "affirmative."
Matthew “Whiz” Buckley, a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot, described such pressurization events as "extremely rare" and noted that pilots in such scenarios prioritize landing at the nearest suitable airfield as soon as practical.
Passengers described the experience as frightening, with one individual recounting on Reddit that the uncertainty of the situation was more alarming than the descent itself. The passenger noted the difficulty in hearing flight attendants making announcements while wearing oxygen masks and the immediate concern about communicating with loved ones. Other travelers shared similar experiences of rapid descents and the use of oxygen masks on flights.