Engine issue causes Delta flight to North Carolina to return to Atlanta airport

A mechanical issue forced a Delta flight to return to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Thursday night, the airline says.

Delta Flight 1518 was set to leave Atlanta and land at Raleigh-Durham International Airport around 9:07 p.m., flight data shows. However, a Delta spokesperson told CBS News that a mechanical issue with the plane's right engine resulted in the flight turning around and heading back.

The spokesperson said the Boeing 737-900 landed safely and the 173 customers on the flight were taken to a new aircraft. They eventually landed in North Carolina shortly after midnight.

"We apologize for the disruption in their travels," the spokesperson said.

It is not clear what the exact nature of the mechanical issue was that caused the situation.