Delta Air Lines Flight 9877 was a charter service operating a Douglas DC-8 aircraft which was scheduled to arrive at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. On approach, the flight encountered inclement weather conditions which contributed to a loss of control during landing. As the aircraft touched down, it failed to stop and veered off the runway, ultimately crashing into an area under construction. This unfortunate incident resulted in the loss of 19 lives, highlighting serious concerns over aircraft safety measures and emergency response protocols.

The aftermath of the crash led to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the event, including the pilots' decisions, the state of the aircraft, and the airport's conditions at the time. It was determined that weather played a significant role in the pilots’ inability to safely land the aircraft. Contributing factors such as inadequate runway length and insufficient training for dealing with adverse weather conditions came under scrutiny.

In the wake of the tragedy, Delta Air Lines and the aviation industry at large reviewed safety regulations, pilot training programs, and operational procedures to prevent similar accidents. This crash would lead to improvements in aviation safety standards, particularly in relation to landing operations in poor weather conditions. Lessons learned from this incident would have long-lasting effects on the industry and contribute to greater scrutiny in aviation regulations.