Passengers aboard Delta Flight 104 experienced a terrifying moment when flames erupted from the left engine of their Airbus A330-300 shortly after takeoff from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport on Sunday (March 29). The flight, carrying 272 passengers and 14 crew members, was bound for Atlanta but was forced to make an emergency return to São Paulo.
As flames shot from the engine, passengers screamed for the plane to “turn around.” The pilots declared an emergency, shut down the affected engine, and safely returned to the airport within approximately 10 minutes. No injuries were reported among the 286 people on board.
Videos captured by passengers showed sparks and flames lighting up the night sky. Airport Rescue and Firefighting teams were on standby and quickly responded by spraying down the aircraft upon landing.
The incident also caused a brush fire within the airport perimeter due to burning debris falling from the engine. This led to a temporary suspension of operations at one of South America’s busiest aviation hubs, as reported by Aviation A2Z.
Delta Air Lines confirmed the mechanical issue and stated that the safety of their customers and crew is their highest priority. Passengers were taken back to the terminal and rebooked on alternative flights.
The cause of the engine fire is under investigation by Brazil’s aviation authority, CENIPA, and possibly the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A bird strike has been suggested as a possible cause, though this has not been confirmed. The incident adds to a series of engine-related emergencies involving Delta aircraft in recent months.
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