A packed Delta Air Lines flight was forced into a harrowing emergency landing in Brazil late Sunday evening after a catastrophic engine failure occurred shortly after takeoff. Delta Flight 104 was departing from São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport bound for Atlanta when the left engine erupted in flames.
Witnesses on the ground captured terrifying video footage showing bright orange sparks and fire trailing from the Airbus A330 as it struggled to gain altitude. The dramatic visuals showed burning debris falling from the aircraft, which reportedly ignited a small brush fire near the runway.
Inside the cabin, passengers reported a massive jolt and a deafening bang that shook the entire vessel just seconds into the flight. Many travelers looked out their windows to see a steady stream of fire erupting from the wing area, leading to immediate panic among those on board.
The flight crew acted quickly to manage the mechanical glitch that caused the visible explosion deep within the heart of the engine. Pilots immediately declared a "Mayday" and stopped their climb at approximately 4,500 feet to begin emergency return procedures.
Air traffic controllers cleared a path for the immediate return of the crippled jet as emergency vehicles lined the runway in anticipation. Despite the heavy weight of the fuel-laden aircraft, the pilot executed a successful touchdown only nine minutes after the initial departure.
Local authorities and Delta officials confirmed that no injuries were reported among the nearly 300 passengers and crew members following the high-stakes landing. Medical teams met the aircraft on the tarmac to evaluate everyone on board, but the situation was resolved without further incident.
Delta Air Lines issued a statement shortly after the event acknowledging the engine malfunction and apologizing for the extreme disruption to travel plans. The airline worked through the night to provide accommodations and rebook the affected passengers on alternative flights to the United States.
An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact technical cause of the explosion that grounded the 20-year-old airframe. Aviation experts will scrutinize the Pratt & Whitney engine to ensure that such a terrifying glitch does not occur on other flights in the future.