If the tail number change is correct, this would seem to mean that DL sent (from somewhere: ATL? JFK?) a rescue aircraft and crew to fetch the passengers. It's a 737-900ER.

ADDED: According to the DL app (search by city pair as the flight number for yesterday--but not today--leads to an error) they departed STI at 12:52 am (10 hours and 38 minutes late) and arrived into JFK at 3:17 am, 10 hours and 18 minutes late. The app shows nothing about the earlier attempt that was diverted.