ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Federal investigators trying to determine why a Delta Air Lines jet landed on a taxiway instead of the runway in Atlanta on Monday morning say the runway was illuminated , but that approach lights and a ground-based instrument that helps pilots line up with the runway were off . The pilots of the plane that landed at the Atlanta airport have been relieved from flying duties pending probes . The incident happened at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport , the world 's busiest . But it occurred shortly before dawn , when airport operations are slow . Delta Flight 60 , from Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , was cleared to land on a main runway around 6:05 a.m. , but it landed instead on nearby Taxiway M , which runs parallel to the runway , said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen . The departure taxiway , which can be filled with aircraft during peak hours , was empty at the time , and the plane landed safely , officials said . No one was injured , and there was no damage to the taxiway . The Boeing 767 aircraft had 182 passengers and a crew of 11 . The FAA , the National Transportation Safety Board and Delta Air Lines are investigating . The pilots of the aircraft were placed on nonflight status , Delta said . The NTSB on Wednesday confirmed that a `` check pilot '' on the flight was sick , and the crew had declared a medical emergency . It was not clear what , if any , role that played in the mishap . Sources familiar with the incident say that Flight 60 originally was scheduled to land on Runway 27L ( left ) , the active runway at that time , but was `` sidestepped '' to Runway 27R ( right ) . Pilots commonly ask to be `` sidestepped '' to Runway 27R -- and air traffic controllers commonly offer 27R -- because it is closer to the terminal and pilots can shave minutes from a trip . In this case , it is not clear whether the pilot made the request , or the air traffic controllers made the offer . Nor is it clear why the change was made -- whether to shave time from the flight , or because of the medical emergency on the aircraft or some other reason . But after being given permission to land on Runway 27R , the plane went too far to the right , landing on Taxiway M. The runway was marked with yellow lights , while the taxiway was marked with blue lights , one person familiar with the incident said . The NTSB said the runway lights on 27R were illuminated , but a `` localizer '' and approach lights for the runway were off . Officials said the weather at the airport was clear , and the NTSB said the wind was calm at 10 mph . The sky was dark , with twilight still more than an hour away . The NTSB said a `` check airman '' was in the cockpit with the captain and first officer during the flight , but became ill and moved to the cabin for the remainder of the flight . Check airman are company pilots who watch over crew members during significant flights , such as when a first officer becomes a captain , when a pilot is making a maiden international flight , or over mountainous terrain for the first time . The NTSB said it is uncertain why the check airman was on the Delta flight . Delta spokesman Anthony Black said the airline is cooperating with the FAA and the NTSB and conducting its own investigation . The pilots of the flight have been relieved from active flying , he said . The incident came just two weeks after the FAA announced that serious runway incursions were down 50 percent this year . Close calls in 2007 at some of the busiest U.S. airports prompted the FAA to take action to reduce the risk of runway incursions and wrong runway departures . There were 24 serious runway incursions that year , eight of them involving commercial carriers .
Flight 60 from Georgia landed on taxiway instead of runway in Brazil , Atlanta . No planes were on taxiway waiting to take off ; jet landed safely with no injuries . Investigation looking at approach lights , ground-based instrument . Delta Flight 60 : '' Check pilot '' was sick before landing , crew declared medical emergency .