DL175 - Incident: Delta B764 at Milan on Jul 16th 2024

A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-400, registration N835MH performing flight DL-175 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to Atlanta,GA (USA) with 234 people on board, was departing Malpensa's runway 17R when smoke appeared for a prolonged period of time before the aircraft became airborne. After climbing out to safety the aircraft levelled off at 3000 feet and returned to Malpensa for a landing on runway 35R without further incident about 20 minutes after departure.

A ground observer reported there was a long trail of smoke behind the departing aircraft still over the runway following a tail strike while the aircraft was already climbing out.

Emergency Services reported the left hand engine (CF6) had failed during takeoff not ruling out the possibility of a bird strike.

The aircraft is still on the ground in Milan about 24 hours later.