Delta A330 Evacuated at Orlando After Engine Fire
A routine pushback at Orlando International Airport turned into a dramatic tarmac evacuation when a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300 experienced an engine fire moments before departure. The wide-body twinjet, operating flight 1213 from Orlando to the carrier’s Atlanta hub on 21 April 2025, had just left its gate around 11:06 a.m. local time with 294 people on board—282 passengers, 10 flight attendants and two pilots—when flames and smoke erupted from the tailpipe of the right-hand Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engine.
Witnesses in the terminal captured video showing orange flashes and dark exhaust as ramp personnel signaled the crew to halt the push. Airport officials said Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting units arrived within minutes, dousing the nacelle while the captain ordered an immediate evacuation. Slides deployed, and travelers descended to the apron, assembling at a safe distance until buses ferried them back to the concourse.
Orlando airport confirmed no serious injuries, though a handful of passengers reported minor abrasions incurred during the rapid exit. Delta provided meal vouchers and rebooked customers on a substitute aircraft that departed roughly five hours later, allowing most to reach Atlanta that evening. The carrier apologized for the ordeal and praised crew members whose swift actions “exemplified our commitment to safety.”
Early maintenance reviews suggest a hot-start fuel-ignition event or compressor stall, conditions that can produce visible flames even at low power. The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a formal inquiry and may involve the National Transportation Safety Board. The affected jet, tail number N810NW, will undergo thorough inspection before returning to service. Delta, which flies more than forty A330s, said it is reviewing engine-health data across the fleet as a precaution, though it emphasized that uncontained fires on the ground are rare.
The incident briefly paused pushback activity on Orlando’s busiest ramp, but departures resumed within half an hour. Social-media clips quickly went viral, sparking renewed discussion about heeding safety briefings and leaving carry-ons behind during evacuations. Aviation analysts noted that established emergency protocols and trained crews typically prevent ground fires from escalating—an outcome demonstrated on flight 1213.
Passengers praised Orlando’s clear public-address updates and firefighters’ rapid response. One traveler described the slide descent as “scary but smooth,” crediting attendants for calm instructions. Investigators will examine cockpit recordings, maintenance logs and ramp CCTV to pinpoint the ignition source and determine whether procedural changes are needed.
Delta encouraged anyone requiring further assistance to contact its customer-care team and reiterated that safety remains its highest priority. For hundreds of travelers, the morning served as a vivid reminder that even routine departures can demand split-second decisions—and that thorough training, robust equipment and tight coordination between airline and airport teams are essential to keeping those decisions safe.
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