A Delta Air Lines flight was dramatically evacuated at Orlando International Airport after one of its engines caught fire just before takeoff. The incident involved Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus A330 aircraft scheduled to fly to Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday morning.
The aircraft, which was carrying 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots, had just left the gate around 11:15 a.m. ET when flames and smoke were observed coming from the right engine, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In response, flight crews initiated an emergency evacuation using inflatable slides.
Videos shared on social media show plumes of smoke rising from the engine as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Passengers can be seen disembarking rapidly and gathering on the tarmac while fire crews worked to contain and extinguish the flames.
“Passengers were evacuated. Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting team promptly responded,” the airport stated in a post on social media.
Delta confirmed the evacuation, stating: “Flight crews followed procedures to evacuate the passenger cabin when flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft’s two engines were observed. We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and apologize for the experience. Nothing is more important than safety, and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible.”
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members. All individuals were safely transported back to the airport terminal.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, and Delta’s maintenance team will also inspect the aircraft to determine what triggered the incident.
This event is the latest in a series of high-profile aviation emergencies in North America this year, highlighting growing safety concerns and prompting renewed scrutiny of air travel procedures and equipment integrity.
