A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 carrying more than 200 passengers was evacuated on the runway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL/KATL) Friday morning after the crew aborted takeoff due to an engine failure.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:10 a.m. local time when flight DL-2668, bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP/KMSP), experienced issues with its right-hand Pratt & Whitney engine during the takeoff roll.
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft reached approximately 85 knots before the pilots initiated the rejected takeoff procedure.
Four passengers sustained minor injuries during the emergency evacuation, with one requiring transportation to a hospital, according to airport officials. The remaining three passengers were treated at the scene.
“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight 2668 from Atlanta to Minneapolis-St. Paul after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement via CNN.
Emergency services responding to the scene reported smoke and flames emanating from the aircraft’s right engine after the aircraft came to a stop approximately 5,900 feet down Runway 09L. However, air traffic control initially reported no visible signs of fire from the tower.
The incident occurred amid challenging weather conditions, as Atlanta experienced unusual snowfall that had already disrupted airport operations. More than 400 flights at the airport had been canceled by 11 a.m. local time, representing over 40 percent of scheduled operations.
The Boeing 757-351, registered as N589NW, was carrying 201 passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants. Following the evacuation via emergency slides, passengers were transported back to the terminal by ground vehicles.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the incident, while the National Transportation Safety Board stated it is monitoring the situation but has not yet initiated a formal investigation.
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