Savannah, United States: A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900 operating as Flight 1067 from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Atlanta was forced to return to its departure airport Sunday evening after suffering a left-engine failure shortly after takeoff, an event that also ignited a large grass fire beside the runway, officials and air traffic recordings confirm.
The aircraft, registered N942DZ, lifted off at approximately 6:45 p.m. local time when the crew declared an emergency moments later, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information and air traffic control audio. In the recording, controllers observed flames and asked the crew if they were “everything okay?” The pilot responded: “We lost the left engine straight out here for Delta 1067.”
Shortly afterward, the controller notified another aircraft on the ground to stand clear, saying, “we’re going to get a fire truck out there, that whole taxiway is on fire.” Follow-up exchanges made clear the blaze was linked to the engine failure, with the controller stating: “When the engine blew, it set the whole grass on the left side of the airport on fire.”
Local fire agencies responded immediately to the grass fire, which burned near the airport perimeter. Agencies involved included Garden City Fire-Rescue, the Savannah Fire Department, Pooler Fire-Rescue, airport fire services, and the 165th Airlift Wing Fire Department, working jointly under a mutual aid agreement.
The fire was brought under control in roughly 15–30 minutes, and officials reported that other runway operations were not significantly disrupted once the area was secured.
Flight 1067, carrying 179 passengers and six crew members, circled and returned to Savannah, landing safely back on runway 28 at about At 7:12 p.m.
There were no injuries reported among passengers or crew. After the aircraft came to a stop, occupants deplaned normally at the gate.
In a statement, Delta Air Lines confirmed the event, describing it as a mechanical issue with the aircraft’s left engine that necessitated the return. The airline reiterated that passenger and crew safety was its highest priority and said it was working to reaccommodate affected travelers on alternate flights.
According to aviation tracking logs, a replacement Boeing 737-900 later transported the displaced passengers to Atlanta with an approximately nine-hour delay.
The FAA has confirmed it is investigating the incident. Preliminary reports point to a loss of thrust on the left engine during initial climb, with emergency procedures followed onboard and by air traffic control. The agency has not yet released final findings.
Videos shared on social media show large rings of fire in the grass alongside the runway and a thick orange haze in the sky as powerful winds buffeted the scene. Some passengers interviewed afterward said the flight crew remained calm, briefing passengers about the situation and pointing out fire crews staged for the aircraft’s return.
