Delta flight returns to Atlanta airport after mechanical issue

Pigeons on plane FILE PHOTO: It wasn't snakes on a plane instead it was pigeons that caused flight delays. (Wangkun Jia - stock.adobe.com)

By Miles Montgomery

ATLANTA — A Delta airlines flight from Atlanta heading to Tampa had to return to the airport after there was a mechanical issue with the plane on Friday evening.

Shortly after takeoff, Delta Airlines flight 1457 returned to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Delta Airlines officials say there was a mechanical problem but they did not specify what happened.

Officials say nearly 200 passengers are being put on another plane to Tampa that was scheduled to takeoff around 9:15 p.m.