Travelers at Orlando International Airport faced a frightening scene Monday morning when a Delta Air Lines jet caught fire just before takeoff, triggering an emergency evacuation and grounding a flight packed with nearly people.
Delta Flight, an Airbus A bound for Atlanta, was pushing back from the gate around:1 a.m. when flames erupted from the tailpipe of one of its engines. Passengers and crew—28 travelers, 1 flight attendants, and two pilots—were ordered to evacuate immediately using emergency slides as smoke and fire became visible to those on board and in the terminal.
Videos shared on social media showed dramatic scenes of orange flames and thick black smoke pouring from the right engine, with passengers sliding to safety on the tarmac. Emergency responders arrived quickly, and the airport’s rescue and firefighting teams contained the blaze before it could spread.
Remarkably, there were no reported injuries among passengers or crew. Delta stated, “Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible.” The airline arranged for alternate flights and began a thorough inspection of the affected aircraft to determine the cause of the fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident. This event is the latest in a series of high-profile aviation scares for Delta in recent months, raising questions about safety but also highlighting the effectiveness of emergency protocols.
