A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta turned back Sunday evening after its left engine failed shortly after takeoff, igniting a grass fire near the runway at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, authorities and passengers said.
Delta Flight 1067, a Boeing 737-900, had departed around 6:45 p.m. with 179 passengers, two pilots and four flight attendants on board when the pilot declared an emergency, according to recordings of air traffic control radio transmissions.
An air traffic controller can be heard asking the pilot if everything was okay after witnesses reported seeing a large flame during departure.
The pilot responded that the aircraft “lost left engine,” and controllers soon reported that grass along the side of the runway had caught fire as a result of the engine issue.
Emergency response units, including airport crash trucks and local fire departments, responded to the blaze. Firefighters from Garden City Fire Rescue, the Savannah Fire Department, Pooler Fire-Rescue and the 165th Airlift Wing worked to contain the grass fire.
Despite the mechanical trouble, the flight returned safely to Savannah, touching down at 7:12 p.m. and was met by fire crews. Delta confirmed in a statement that the aircraft landed without injury and customers were able to deplane at the gate.
Video footage shared on social media showed large rings of fire burning alongside the runway, with smoke and an orange haze visible in the distance. Passengers described hearing a loud boom at takeoff and being reassured by the flight crew.
Passenger Jeanne Miraglia told a local TV affiliate that the pilot informed travelers about the engine issue and the fire, noting the aircraft still had “another good engine” and that they would be fine.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation into the incident, and the airline said it is working with authorities to determine the cause of the engine failure.
