A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was evacuated Monday morning at Orlando International Airport after one of its engines caught fire during pushback from the gate.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the incident occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m. EDT, involving an Airbus A330 with 282 passengers and 12 crew members aboard. The FAA said it would investigate the cause of the fire.
According to Delta, Flight 1213 was preparing for departure when flames were seen in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft’s two engines. The flight crew initiated an emergency evacuation, deploying slides to ensure all occupants exited safely. No injuries were reported.
Orlando International Airport said on social media that the fire broke out in the ramp area and was quickly extinguished by the airport’s aircraft rescue and firefighting team.
Delta stated that maintenance crews will examine the aircraft, and alternative arrangements were being made to transport affected passengers to their destinations.
The incident adds to a growing list of recent aviation safety concerns in the U.S., including the deadly January mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, which claimed at least 67 lives.
In a similar case last month, an American Airlines jet experienced an engine fire while taxiing in Denver, prompting an evacuation onto the aircraft’s wing.
