DL 2078 Loading and looking like an on time departure yesterday.

As we are on the bridge, a mechanic comes off the plane and he was not looking very happy.

Pilot in line behind us, You flying this today? he asks the pilot behind us, affirmative responds the pilot and the mechanic mutters something about the FAA and they both turn around and exit the bridge.

10-15 minutes later, we're all seated on board, ready to go,

Ladies and Gentlemen announces the pilot

The FAA is in SAN today and we are missing an EMERGENCY EXIT sticker on the outside of the aircraft, therefore, we are UNABALE to push back from the gate. Need that sticker to fly.(The old one was expired or worn off)

Update to follow, pilot calls HQ to see if any stickers in SAN, no such luck

A plea for help goes out to fellow carriers in SAN and lo and behold US Air has one for us.

First one would not stick as it was old and glue had lost its mo jo, but they have another, but will take 15 minutes to head back over to US Air.

Finally- 30-35 minutes after scheduled departure sticker is affixed to exterior of aircraft, but now, we have to wait 30 minutes for sticker to affix to aircraft exterior (i.e. let the glue dry) (FAA RULES)

by now- 75% of the passengers will miss their connections in SLC.

Your opinions please

1) could the FAA not have advised DL- You have 24-48 hours to fix this? I believe the FAA knows where these aircraft are 24/7. This issue had absolutely nothing to do with safety.

2)Did DL do something to Pis% off the FAA? as I also heard from another passenger coming from MSP that same thing happened to him on Delta.

The enormous cost to Delta to house and feed MANY passengers last night was ridiculous.

Any insight? Is the FAA trying to distract from movies and sleepovers in the tower?