On January 10, 2025, about 200 passengers on a Delta Air Lines aircraft to Minneapolis were evacuated at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) owing to engine troubles with the Boeing 757.
Flight Information
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300, registration N589NW, was flying flight DL2668 from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), when the flight crew chose to abandon takeoff owing to engine problems. Delta Air Lines verified the event, saying:
“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the take-off of flight 2668 from Atlanta (ATL) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) after an indication of an engine issue.”
The botched take-off caused passengers to flee the Boeing 757 via emergency slides. According to an ATL airport statement, four persons had minor injuries, one of them was evacuated to a hospital and the other three treated on the scene.
Flights at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport were delayed owing to the event and the continuous inclement weather. The National Weather Service advised residents to stay at home if they didn’t need to be on the road.
The FAA will investigate.
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released a statement about the Delta Air Lines incident. The US aviation regulator stated:
“The crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 2668 aborted takeoff from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport about 9:05 a.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 10, due to a suspected engine malfunction. Passengers left the plane on the runway. “The FAA will conduct an investigation.”
Flightradar24.com reports that the airline’s Boeing 757 is currently grounded at Atlanta International Airport. However, flight monitoring data shows that the narrowbody will make a scheduled journey from Atlanta (ATL) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) on January 11, 2025.
It is worth mentioning that the aircraft in question is Delta’s 22-year-old Boeing 757-300, which can accommodate up to 234 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 24 in business class, 32 in economy plus, and 178 in economy class. According to ch-aviation records, the airplane had 73,270 flying hours and 23,992 flight cycles as of July 31, 2024.
Regarding rejected take-offs.
Aborted take-offs, like go-arounds, are uncommon but may occur occasionally. An aborted take-off occurs when an aircraft begins to accelerate down the runway in preparation for takeoff. However, for a variety of reasons, the aircraft stops before reaching the end of the runway.
There are various reasons why a pilot may decide to abandon a takeoff. These can include engine difficulties, things not feeling quite right, and even unexpected traffic in close proximity. After all, it is best to be careful and take extra precautions. Simple Flying’s entire guide on denied takeoffs is provided here.