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A Delta flight caught fire on the tarmac at the Orlando International Airport on Monday, April 21, 2025. Videos circulating on social media show the aircraft's right wing shrouded in flame and smoke as passengers evacuate through inflatable emergency slides.
BBC, citing a statement by the airline, reported on April 21 that there were no injuries. The aircraft in question, an Airbus A330, was carrying 282 passengers, along with 10 flight attendants and two pilots.
As the news went viral, internet users were quick to react under the Instagram page @theshaderoom's post about the same. Referencing the several recent aviation-related accidents, one user wondered:
"How many people scared of flying now?"
Many prayed for safe future flights, with some noting it was lucky that the incident didn't happen mid-air.
Other users reacted to the news using humor.
"It sounded like a large thump" — A passenger aboard the Delta flight recalls Monday's incident
According to ClickOrlando on April 21, the fire broke out in Delta Air Lines Flight 1213 as it was set to depart Orlando around 11 AM for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
In a statement made after the incident, the company explained that crew members evacuated the cabin after spotting "flames in the tailpipe of one of the aircraft's two engines."
Videos of the incident taken from the terminal show passengers waiting at the tarmac, with emergency vehicles surrounding the aircraft. In another video, people can be seen exiting the plane using an inflatable slide. In a statement made to News 6, a passenger on the flight explained:
"It sounded like a large thump. We thought it was probably like someone who was putting luggage under the plane or something like that. And then we saw an orange flash."
Meanwhile, Delta said that maintenance teams will check the aircraft. Further, the company noted that it will bring an additional aircraft to help stranded customers reach their final destination as soon as possible.
In a separate statement posted on X, Orlando International Airport shared that its rescue and firefighting team responded quickly and contained the fire.
Delta, on the other hand, also noted in their statement:
"We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and apologize for the experience. Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible."
Monday's incident is one of the several recent high-profile aviation incidents making headlines in the United States. As per the BBC, in January, a commercial jetliner and a military Black Hawk helicopter collided near the Potomac River in Washington, DC, killing 67.
The following month, a Delta Air Lines plane crashed and overturned while landing in Toronto, but all 80 passengers on board survived. In March, the engine of an American Airlines jet caught fire while taxiing to the gate at the Denver airport, leading to passengers evacuating onto the wing.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating Monday's fire. No other updates have been observed yet.
