Nearly 300 People Evacuated from Delta Plane After Engine Fire at Orlando Airport
Orlando, FL – April 21, 2025 – A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was evacuated on Monday morning after an engine fire broke out at Orlando International Airport, forcing nearly 300 passengers and crew to flee the aircraft using emergency slides. No injuries were reported in the incident, which has added to growing concerns about aviation safety following a series of recent incidents.
The fire erupted on Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus A330 carrying 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots, just after 11:15 a.m. ET as the plane pushed back from the gate for its scheduled departure. According to Delta Air Lines, flames were observed in the tailpipe of the aircraft’s right engine, prompting the flight crew to initiate an immediate evacuation out of an abundance of caution. Videos shared on social media captured bright flames and thick black smoke billowing from the engine, with passengers sliding down emergency chutes to the tarmac.
“Delta flight crews followed procedures to evacuate the passenger cabin when flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft’s two engines were observed,” Delta said in a statement. The airline confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely returned to the terminal, where they were provided with food and beverages while awaiting a replacement aircraft to continue their journey.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Delta are investigating the cause of the fire, with maintenance teams examining the aircraft to determine what triggered the incident. Airport officials reported that the airport’s rescue and firefighting team responded swiftly, and operations at Orlando International Airport were briefly disrupted but have since resumed.
Passenger accounts described a tense but orderly evacuation. “I heard people yell ‘fire,’ and we were told to get out fast,” said one passenger quoted by USA Today. “Some people grabbed their bags despite instructions, but it went smoother than I expected.” Another passenger, reunited with their belongings shortly after, praised Delta for quickly arranging alternative flights.
The incident is the latest in a string of high-profile aviation mishaps involving Delta and other carriers. In February, a Delta flight crashed and flipped over upon landing in Toronto, though all 80 people onboard survived. Earlier this year, a Japan Airlines plane clipped a parked Delta aircraft in Seattle, and an American Airlines jet caught fire in Denver, requiring passengers to evacuate onto the wing. These events, coupled with a January mid-air collision near Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people, have heightened public scrutiny of aviation safety in the U.S.
“Flying remains one of the safest ways to travel, but incidents like these raise questions about maintenance and oversight,” said aviation analyst John Carter. “The FAA and airlines will need to reassure passengers that these are isolated events.”
Delta has not released a timeline for the investigation or details on the condition of the Airbus A330, which has logged nearly 92,000 flight hours over two decades, primarily on long-haul transatlantic routes. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety and cooperation with the FAA to identify the fire’s cause.
Passengers affected by the incident were rebooked on later flights, and Delta apologized for the disruption. As the investigation unfolds, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the aviation industry in maintaining public confidence amid a spate of recent close calls.
Sources: Reuters, NBC News, ABC News, USA Today, Fox News, posts on X