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A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to double back to an airport in Georgia moments after takeoff when one of its engines reportedly failed, leaving a trail of flaming grass in its wake.
Delta flight 1067, a Boeing 737-900, was supposed to embark on a quick one-hour flight from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to Atlanta around 6:45 p.m. Sunday. It was only in the air for a few moments before the captain declared an emergency.
The pilot reported issues with the left engine, which expelled a flame that was visible from the air traffic control tower.
“Everything ok? I saw a pretty large flame on takeoff,” one air traffic controller said over dispatch, according to a radio recording on Broadcastify.
“We lost left engine straight out here for Delta 1067,” the pilot confirmed.
The grass next to the runway caught fire, according to harrowing photos taken by emergency responders.
The controller ordered another plane on the runway to move elsewhere so they could “get a fire truck out there,” since “that whole taxiway is on fire.”
The startling videos showed a wall of fire raging alongside the runway as an orange haze overtook the horizon.
“This fire, is it related to the runway? Is it what just happened with our airplane, or is it something different?” the Delta pilot asked.
“Unfortunately, when the engine blew, it set the whole grass on the left side of the airport on fire,” the controller replied grimly.
The 179 passengers, four flight attendants, and both pilots were all accounted for after the plane landed back at its origin less than 30 minutes after takeoff. No injuries were reported.
“Delta flight 1067 from Savannah to Atlanta returned to the airport soon after takeoff Sunday evening, following a mechanical issue with the aircraft’s left engine. The Boeing 737-900 landed safely and was met by [Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting], then customers deplaned normally at the gate,” Delta Air Lines wrote in a statement.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority. We apologize to our customers for this delay in their travels.”
Jeanne Miraglia, a passenger on the Delta flight, told WTOC that she heard a loud boom while they were ascending.
“The pilot came on saying the engine had blown, but we have another good engine. And we’re gonna be fine and told us what to look for – fire trucks, grass fires, and things like that,” she said.
The passengers were later boarded onto a replacement aircraft, and landed at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport just after 3 a.m., the airline said.
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