On Monday, April 21, a Delta Air Lines plane carrying nearly 300 passengers caught fire in the engine while taxiing away from the gate at Orlando International Airport in Florida, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The Airbus A330 aircraft was scheduled to depart for Atlanta around 11:15 AM Eastern Time when the engine fire occurred. The FAA has announced that an investigation will be conducted into the incident.
Delta Air Lines informed that Flight 1213 had a total of 282 passengers and 12 crew members, with no immediate reports of injuries or casualties. The airline crew safely evacuated passengers from the cabin upon observing flames coming from one of the aircraft’s engines as per procedure.
A social media user posted a video from the scene showing significant flames erupting from the Airbus aircraft, with another video depicting passengers evacuating using the emergency slides.
Orlando International Airport shared on social media that the fire broke out in the apron area, and the airport’s aircraft rescue and firefighting teams responded promptly.
Delta Air Lines stated that a maintenance team will inspect the aircraft, and additional flights will be dispatched on Monday to assist passengers in reaching their final destinations.
This incident has once again raised questions about aviation safety in the United States.
In recent months, there have been several aviation accidents in the United States. On January 29, a commuter jet from a US airline collided with a military helicopter near Reagan National Airport, resulting in the deaths of 67 individuals.
On the evening of March 13, American Airlines Flight AA1006 caught fire at Denver International Airport, prompting 172 passengers and 6 crew members to evacuate onto the aircraft’s wings, luckily with no casualties. American Airlines suggested that the cause of the accident might be related to an engine malfunction on the Boeing 737-800.
On April 10, a sightseeing helicopter crashed over the Hudson River in New York City, killing the pilot and a family of five.
On April 12, a small plane crashed in Boca Raton, Florida, claiming the lives of all 3 occupants onboard. The same day, a private aircraft crashed in Columbia County, New York, resulting in the deaths of 6 individuals.
On April 18, a small aircraft flying over the Platte River south of Fremont, Nebraska, suddenly lost control and crashed into the river, leading to the deaths of all 3 occupants on board. The next day, a small plane crashed near Trilla, Illinois, killing all 4 on board. The aircraft seemingly collided with high-voltage power lines before plummeting into a field and catching fire.
(The article references the report by The Hill).