The B747-400 is a four-engine widebody commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The -400 series is the best-selling model in the successful 747 family. Its most distinguishing feature from the other 747 models are its winglets. With seatings for a maximum of 624 people, the 747-400 can fly non-stop for 7,670 nautical miles (14,200 km), depending on the model. The first 747-400 was rolled out in January 1988 and flew for the first time on April 29, 1988. Certification was received on January 10, 1989 with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines, May 18, 1989 with General Electric CF6-80C2s and June 8, 1989 with Rolls-Royce RB211-524Gs. The first 747-400 was delivered to launch customer Northwest Airlines on January 26, 1989, with service entry on February 9 with a flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix.

This specific 747 is painted in the Delta Airlines paint scheme. Delta operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day. The airline's hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's largest, and since 1999 the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic (88 million passengers per year) and number of landings and take-offs.