Panic on Board

A Delta Air Lines flight from São Paulo to Atlanta made an emergency landing Sunday after flames shot out of its left engine just minutes after takeoff. Passengers screamed and begged the pilots to ‘turn around’ as sparks and bursts of flame lit up the night sky.

Close Call

Videos recorded by passengers show the terrifying moment when the engine malfunctioned, forcing the pilots to declare an emergency and shut down the affected engine. The Airbus A330-300, carrying 272 passengers and 14 crew, circled back to the airport and landed safely.

Airport Rescue and Firefighting teams were waiting on the runway, and video shows crew spraying down the aircraft. Passengers erupted into cheers and applause when the plane came to a stop, relieved that the ordeal was over.

No Injuries Reported

Miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident. The airline said the safety of its customers and crew is its top priority and apologized for the delay. Passengers were taken back to the terminal and later rebooked on other flights.