The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a Delta Air Lines flight from Savannah, Georgia, to Atlanta was compelled to flip again Sunday evening due to engine trouble, sparking a big grass fire close to the airport runway.
Delta flight 1067, a Boeing 737-900, had simply taken off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport round 6:45 p.m. Sunday when the pilot declared an emergency.
“Everything ok? I saw a pretty large flame on takeoff,” an air site visitors controller requested the pilot, heard in a radio recording on Broadcastify.
“We lost left engine straight out here for Delta 1067,” the pilot will be heard saying.
The controller acknowledges the grass fire shortly after, telling one other airplane on the runway to transfer, saying “we’re going to get a fire truck out there, that whole taxiway is on fire.”
The pilot of flight 1067 later asks: “This fire. Is it related to the runway? Is it what just happened with our airplane, or is it something different?”
The controller replied, “Unfortunately, when the engine blew, it set the whole grass on the left side of the airport on fire.”
There have been 179 prospects, 2 pilots and 4 flight attendants on board, in accordance to Delta. No one was injured.
“Delta flight 1067 from Savannah to Atlanta returned to the airport soon after takeoff Sunday evening, following a mechanical issue with the aircraft’s left engine,” the airline stated in an announcement.
“The Boeing 737-900 landed safely and was met by fire trucks, with customers deplaning at the gate,” Delta stated.
The flight landed again on the airport at 7:12 p.m., in accordance to flight tracker FlightAware.
Video shared on social media confirmed giant rings of fire alongside the runway, with a thick, orange haze on the horizon. In one video, breakneck winds will be heard.
Passengers Mary Muff and Jeanne Miraglia instructed NCS affiliate WTOC how they heard a big increase round take off.
“The pilot came on saying the engine had blown, but we have another good engine,” Miraglia instructed WTOC. “And we’re gonna be fine and told us what to look for – fire trucks, grass fires, and things like that.”
Emergency response groups, together with firefighters, have been known as to the scene Garden City Fire Rescue stated on Facebook. The division stated it was working in coordination with the Savannah Fire Department, Pooler Fire-Rescue and one hundred and sixty fifth Airlift Wing Fire Department.