After an engine fire at Orlando Airport, passengers evacuated the Delta Airbus A330 via emergency slides. No injuries have been reported. Credit: X-@Beckerkw
What was intended to be a routine flight from Orlando to Atlanta turned into a horrifying experience Monday morning when the engines of the Delta plane were lit just before takeoff.
Passengers on Flight 1213 had to evacuate using emergency slides at Tarmac at Orlando International Airport.
The incident occurred around 11:15am, just after the plane (Airbus A330) was pushed back from the gate. According to the FAA, the fire began with one tailpipe of the engine, prompting immediate action from the squadron. On board was 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants and two pilots.
Thankfully, no one was hurt and the fire was quickly controlled by the emergency crew already stationed at the airport.
Delta Engine Fire: Quick evacuation and passenger safety response
According to Delta, the moment the flames were discovered, the crew didn’t get a chance. Evacuation orders were given, slides were unfolded, and within minutes everyone was off the plane and returned to the terminal.
Passengers were naturally shaken, but were mild and no injuries were reported. Delta then arranged a switch to get everyone to head to Atlanta, despite the delays and stories, but perhaps unforgettable stories soon.
In a statement, the airline apologised for the fear and praised the passengers’ cooperation. “There’s nothing more important than safety.” They said. “Our team is working to bring customers to their final destinations as quickly as possible.”
The recent Delta Flight incident raises passenger safety concerns
This is not the first time Delta has had to deal with an emergency in recent months. In February, 21 people were injured when the flight was overturned when landing in Toronto. A month ago, in January, another Delta flight called off takeoff in Atlanta, and passengers had to slip off the plane just like this week.
The FAA began an investigation into the fire on Monday, with Delta saying the maintenance team would also be inspecting the aircraft.
For now, the most important thing is that everyone is safe and the system is in place, from training the crew to responding to the airport, was exactly what they intended to do. Still, the recent string of incidents is to raise some brows, with passengers looking closely to see how the Delta moves forward.
