Passengers were captured on video expressing distress as a jet engine exploded shortly after takeoff. Footage of the incident showed burnt debris from the aircraft falling to the ground, igniting a fire near the runway. Emergency crews quickly responded to extinguish the blaze as the pilot of the Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 declared a ‘Mayday’ emergency before making a safe landing.
Videos revealed bright orange flames flashing against the aircraft windows, with frightened passengers heard screaming in the background. The alarming incident occurred at Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport on Sunday, March 29, just before midnight. The flight, bound for Atlanta in the United States, lasted only nine minutes before returning to the airport.
The aircraft, carrying nearly 300 passengers, halted its ascent at 4,500 feet to return to the terminal. An air traffic controller alerted the flight crew of the fire on the wings, to which the pilot acknowledged the situation and opted to return. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Delta Air Lines announced the cancellation of flight DL0104 due to mechanical issues and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.
Against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, air travel has faced disruptions. A major European country has restricted its airspace to US military aircraft, leading to disturbances at international airports following Iranian drone strikes. Spanish authorities have denied access to US fighter jets at military bases, sparking a conflict with the US president over military cooperation.
The situation escalated as Spain’s foreign minister disputed claims of close cooperation with US military operations. Meanwhile, further Iranian drone attacks have impacted operations at various airports in the region, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
