Picture Credits: neothin, CodyAlcorn (X)
Orlando, USA: A Delta Air Lines aircraft preparing for departure at Orlando International Airport on Monday was evacuated after an engine caught fire, prompting passengers to escape via emergency slides. No injuries were reported.
The incident involved Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus A330 scheduled to fly to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to Delta and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the fire broke out around 11:15 a.m. local time as the plane was pushing back from the gate. The blaze originated in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft’s two main engines.
There were 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and 2 pilots aboard at the time. The crew immediately initiated emergency procedures upon noticing flames, and fire crews responded swiftly to the scene.
Engine Fire Sparks Emergency Evacuation at Orlando Airport
Passengers described the alarming moment when the fire began. “It sounded like a large thump,” one traveler told local media. “We thought it was probably like someone who was putting luggage under the plane or something like that. And then we saw an orange flash.” Another passenger, Kyle Becker, seated in Row 35, said, “There was a fire on the engine. It was a little scary… just never had happened to me before. Start thinking, like, OK, what are the next steps. Trying to remain calm.”
Videos circulating on social media captured smoke billowing from the aircraft and passengers descending emergency slides onto the tarmac. An air traffic controller was heard in one clip saying, “We’re calling the fire trucks right now, we see that.”
A Delta flight just caught on fire at the Orlando Airport 😳 pic.twitter.com/kmksyx5QIu
— Dylan (@dylangwall) April 21, 2025
Passenger Accounts and Emergency Response
While the precise cause of the fire remains under investigation, CBS News transportation expert Robert Sumwalt, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), speculated that fuel may have entered the tailpipe and ignited in the wrong sequence. “The Airbus has an automatic start sequence, and ideally, the ignition occurs before the fuel is poured into it. It looks like somehow fuel got into the tailpipe and then was ignited. It’s supposed to happen the other way around,” he explained.
The FAA confirmed it will investigate the incident, and Delta stated that its maintenance teams will examine the aircraft thoroughly.
In response to the emergency, Delta has arranged for an additional aircraft to transport passengers to their final destination. Meanwhile, evacuees were brought back to the terminal, where they were provided with food and beverages.
Picture Credits: dryostradamus (X)
FAA Investigation Underway as Delta Assures Safety
In a statement, Delta said, “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.”
The engine fire marks the latest in a string of safety incidents involving Delta. Earlier this year, a flight flipped during landing in Toronto amid icy conditions, injuring 21 people. Another incident in January forced an aborted takeoff in Atlanta, during which approximately 200 passengers also had to evacuate using emergency slides.
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