There was some unexpected excitement Monday morning at Orlando International Airport as a Delta Air Lines flight preparing for takeoff was suddenly evacuated after flames erupted from one of its engines — just as hundreds of Jewish families were crowding the terminals, heading home after the Yom Tov of Pesach.

Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus A330 bound for Atlanta, had 200 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots on board when the frightening scene unfolded. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), flames were seen shooting from the tailpipe of one of the aircraft’s engines shortly before departure.

Video footage from the tarmac showed passengers sliding down emergency evacuation slides as fire and rescue crews raced to the scene, extinguishing what appeared to be an engine fire. Onlookers — many of them Orthodox Jews returning from Pesach programs and private villas in the area — described a tense and chaotic moment as travelers rushed to safety.

Delta confirmed that flight crews followed standard emergency protocols upon detecting the flames. “Nothing is more important than safety,” the airline said in a statement. “Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible.”

Passengers were escorted back to the terminal, where Delta staff provided food, beverages, and updates. Replacement aircraft were dispatched to continue transporting travelers to their final destinations. The affected plane is now under inspection by maintenance teams.

No injuries were reported in the incident. The FAA is continuing to investigate the cause of the engine flare-up.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)