The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration number N909DL, serial number 49540, manufactured in July 1987 and delivered new to Delta on December 30, 1987.[1][2]:13 It had accumulated 71,196 total flight hours and 54,865 total flight cycles prior to the accident.[10]:13 It was owned and operated by Delta ever since the aircraft was put into airline service.[11][12]