A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to evacuate nearly 300 passengers after an engine fire broke out on Monday at Orlando International Airport in Florida. The incident occurred as the Airbus A330 aircraft was preparing to depart for Atlanta, with the fire reported around 11:15 a.m. EDT. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), passengers exited the aircraft using emergency slides, and an investigation into the engine fire is underway.
Flight 1213 was carrying 282 passengers and 12 crew members when flames were observed in the tailpipe of one of the plane’s two engines. Delta confirmed that flight crews quickly followed standard evacuation procedures to ensure the safety of everyone on board. No injuries were initially reported. Social media footage captured the moment the engine caught fire, with passengers seen evacuating via the emergency slides.
Orlando International Airport stated that the fire occurred in the ramp area, and its aircraft rescue and fire fighting team responded immediately to control the situation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Airbus has yet to release a comment on the incident.
Delta announced that maintenance teams will thoroughly inspect the damaged aircraft. The airline is arranging additional flights to assist stranded passengers in reaching their final destinations.
This event adds to a growing list of recent aviation incidents in the United States, including a deadly mid-air collision in January involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter, which resulted in 67 fatalities. Another similar engine fire occurred in March when an American Airlines plane was forced to evacuate passengers in Denver after an engine ignited while taxiing.
The FAA continues to investigate this latest Delta incident as concerns about aviation safety remain a critical topic.
