Hundreds of passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in Florida after a Delta Air Lines aircraft briefly caught fire.
The fully booked Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 was in the process of pushing back from the gate for its departure around 11:06 local time on April 21, 2025, when an engine fire occurred in the ramp area, Orlando airport officials announced in a statement.
The aircraft, operating as flight 1213, was en route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A Delta spokesperson told CBS News that there were two pilots, 10 flight attendants, and 282 passengers on board.
In video footage, captured by passengers in the terminal and shared on X, smoke and flames can be seen coming from the tailpipe of one of the engines.
Delta Air Lines flight DL1213, an Airbus A330-323 (N807NW) briefly emitted flames from the no.2 engine during startup after pushback at Orlando Airport (MCO). An evacuation was carried out.pic.twitter.com/PYyAEifwoh
— Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) April 21, 2025
“Passengers were evacuated,” Orlando airport statement read. “Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting team promptly responded.”
Update !
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) April 21, 2025
Latest visuals of the burning RH wing flap track fairing of the Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 aircraft due to flames from the RH engine on 21 April.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 was scheduled to depart from Orlando (MCO), Florida, and land in Atlanta (ATL), Georgia.… https://t.co/9NkyENNjZn pic.twitter.com/SndyNaxTPU
The airline crew executed evacuation procedures and passengers exited the aircraft using emergency slides. According to Delta, there were no immediate reports of injuries among the passengers.
“We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and apologize for the experience,” the airline said to CBS News.
Delta also said passengers were safely returned to the terminal and that the airline has provided additional aircraft to assist passengers in continuing their travels.
The FAA announced it will investigate the incident.