Nearly 300 people had to quickly evacuate a plane after its engine started blazing while still at an airport in Florida. On Easter Monday, a Delta Air Lines flight experienced some fiery difficulties on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport.
Photos and videos have been circulating on social media, showing Delta Flight 1213 with one of its engines engulfed in smoke as it burns. The plane, an Airbus A330, was about to depart for Atlanta when the incident happened. Reports state that it was pushing back from the gate when an engine started smoking.
After seeing the damaged engine, the flight crew quickly initiated an emergency evacuation. A video, which has gone viral, shows passengers can be seen using the inflatable evacuation slides.
There were 282 passengers aboard the plane at the time of the incident, according to a statement from Delta. Reports confirmed that all the passengers and the 12 crew members aboard were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. Orlando International Airport released a statement confirming that its aircraft rescue and firefighting team responded promptly.
According to the statement, released on X, the fire was located in the ramp area and was quickly extinguished, preventing further damage. Delta explained in the Monday statement that it would arrange alternate flights to ensure travellers reach their destinations.
Based on the report, passengers were transported back to the terminal while they waited for their flights. The airline also stated that maintenance teams would conduct a thorough inspection of the aircraft involved in the incident.
This event adds to a recent string of aviation scares in the U.S., sparking ongoing discussions about air travel safety. In March, an American Airlines flight caught fire while taxiing in Denver, prompting passengers to evacuate onto the aircraft’s wing.
Several other incidents involved mall passenger planes, some of which resulted in a number of casualties. The most recent incident with the highest recorded casualties is a deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C. that claimed 67 lives earlier this year.
