Orlando, FL – A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was forced to evacuate on April 21, 2025, after an engine fire broke out at Orlando International Airport (MCO). The incident, involving Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus A330, occurred around 11:15 a.m. EDT as the plane, carrying 282 passengers and 12 crew members, was pushing back from the gate. Flames erupted in one engine’s tailpipe, prompting an emergency evacuation via slides.
The Orlando International Airport’s firefighting team swiftly extinguished the fire on the ramp, and all 294 people on board were safely transported to the terminal with no injuries reported. Delta issued an apology, stating, “Nothing is more important than safety,” and provided a replacement aircraft to continue the journey to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, though with delays. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it will investigate the cause, which remains unknown.
Social media posts, including passenger footage shared by users like
@fl360aero, captured the evacuation’s urgency, showing travelers sliding down emergency chutes. Contrary to some reports, the flight was not headed to Toronto but Atlanta, a detail confirmed by Delta, the FAA, and airport officials. The aircraft, N807NW, is a 20-year-old A330 with nearly 92,000 flight hours, raising questions about maintenance practices.
This marks Delta’s third engine fire incident in recent months. In January 2025, a Delta A330 from Atlanta to São Paulo returned after an engine fire, and in October 2024, another A330 caught fire at Boston Logan Airport during pre-departure for Rome. These events, alongside a deadly mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport in January 2025, have heightened concerns about U.S. aviation safety. The FAA’s investigation will likely scrutinize engine reliability and Delta’s maintenance protocols, especially for aging aircraft.
The incident underscores the unpredictability of aviation emergencies but also highlights the effectiveness of Orlando’s emergency response and Delta’s safety procedures. As the FAA digs deeper, the aviation industry faces growing pressure to address recurring safety issues and ensure passenger trust remains intact.
