A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 aircraft was evacuated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday morning due to an engine failure during takeoff. The plane, carrying over 200 passengers, saw four individuals injured, with one passenger transported to a hospital while others received treatment on-site.
Evacuation Moments and Passenger Reactions
Photos taken by passenger Curtis James show travelers descending emergency slides and walking across the snow-covered runway. Speaking to CNN, James said, “Something went wrong during takeoff, and the engine caught fire. We had to evacuate the plane immediately.”
Another passenger, Allison Wade, shared a video during the evacuation, noting that the plane was still emitting smoke. “This is crazy; we’re all here waiting in the snow,” she said, expressing her shock.
Statements from Delta and Officials
Delta Air Lines released a statement saying, “Our flight crew followed procedures and aborted takeoff after indications of an engine issue during the takeoff roll.” The aircraft was carrying 201 passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants. The evacuated passengers were transported from the runway back to the terminal.
Airport authorities reported that the incident occurred at 9:10 a.m., during which the plane was traveling at approximately 100 mph. According to FlightRadar24 data, the aircraft was stopped about halfway down the runway.
FAA and NTSB Investigating the Incident
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that it is investigating the reported engine failure. Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated it is monitoring the situation but has not officially launched a formal investigation at this time.
Winter Weather Adds to Aviation Challenges
The incident occurred on a day when heavy snowfall and winter weather were affecting the southern U.S. regions. As of Friday morning, over 400 flights at Atlanta Airport more than 40% of its daily operations were canceled. Nationwide, more than 2,500 flights were reported canceled.
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