WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - The emergency exit

slide fell off a Delta Airlines jet after taking off from New

York en route to Los Angeles on Friday, Delta said.

Delta said that crew on the flight, which had 183 people on

board, declared an emergency and returned to John F. Kennedy

International Airport, that it "supporting retrieval efforts."

"As nothing is more important than the safety of our

customers and people, Delta flight crews enacted their extensive

training and followed procedures to return to JFK," the airline

said.

Delta said the Boeing 767 aircraft, which will be

"thoroughly" evaluated, has been removed from service. It said

it will cooperate in investigations.

The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation

Administration, according to the agency.