Delta Jet Malfunction Forces Return To Austin Airport

AUSTIN, TX —A Delta Airlines jet bound for Salt Lake City was forced to return to Austin due to a mechanical issue on Saturday afternoon, officials confirmed.

In a response to emailed questions from Patch, Delta spokeswoman Savannah Huddleston reported that the plane for Delta Flight 1281 operating from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon experienced mechanical issue shortly after takeoff.

"The flight landed safely and returned to the gate, where customers deplaned normally," Huddleston wrote. "Delta’s maintenance technicians will evaluate the aircraft and customers will be accommodated on an alternate aircraft this evening."

There were unconfirmed reports on social media that the plane may have struck birds or a drone, causing one of the engines to shut down. Airline officials did not confirm such reports, citing only the unspecified mechanical failure.

The plane reportedly had 135 people on board, and no injuries were reported.

"The safety of our customers and crew is Delta’s top priority, and we apologize for any inconvenience this has caused," Huddleston wrote.

>>> Staff writer Tony Cantú contributed to this report.