A Delta Air Lines plane carrying nearly 300 passengers suffered an engine fire after pushing back from the gate at Orlando International Airport in Florida on Monday, forcing the passengers to evacuate using slides, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The Airbus A330 was set to depart for Atlanta when the engine caught fire around 11:15 a.m. EDT. The FAA said it will investigate. A number of recent aviation safety incidents in the United States have raised concerns.
Delta said Flight 1213 had 282 passengers and 12 crew members and there were no initial reports of injuries. Delta flight crews "followed procedures to evacuate the passenger cabin when flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft's two engines were observed." Orlando International Airport said in a social media post that the fire occurred on the ramp area and that the airport's aircraft rescue and fire fighting team promptly responded. Airbus did not immediately comment. Delta said maintenance teams will examine the aircraft and the airline will bring in additional aircraft to help customers reach their final destinations on Monday.
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