Passengers traveling on Delta flight 1213 had to be evacuated after smoke and flames erupted from the right engine while the aircraft was on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport in Florida. Videos shared on social media captured the alarming scene, showing the passengers using inflatable emergency slides to leave the Airbus A330, which was scheduled for departure to Atlanta.
The flight was carrying over 200 individuals, including 10 flight attendants and two pilots. Delta Airlines confirmed in a statement provided to CBS News that the evacuation took place swiftly after flames were observed coming from one of the aircraft's main engines. Fortunately, there are no reported injuries among the passengers or crew.
Social media footage taken from the terminal depicted individuals standing on the tarmac next to the delayed flight, while emergency vehicles were visibly surrounding the incident. The airport authorities conveyed their gratitude to the passengers for their cooperation during the evacuation and emphasized that safety remains the top priority. Delta Airlines has committed to helping customers reach their destinations as soon as possible.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it will conduct an investigation into the incident to determine its cause and any potential implications for future flights.
