A terrifying incident unfolded at Seattle-Tacoma airport on Monday evening as a Delta plane from Cancun, Mexico, burst into flames after landing.
A passenger caught the incident on camera, revealing the frightening moments when the plane’s nose started emitting smoke and glowing red. All 189 passengers on board were quickly evacuated through the emergency exit and guided to the tarmac via emergency slides. Luckily, no major injuries were reported, though some passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process.
According to reports, the fire was caused by an electrical cord that shorted out, possibly due to a ground power unit. The Port of Seattle Fire Department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire, though it had already burnt itself out. Despite this, firefighter crews still sprayed water on the charred area as a precaution.
Delta issued a statement in response to the incident, stating that the crew noticed the fire during the deplaning process and decided to deploy the emergency slides as a precaution. The airline also reassured passengers that the Airbus A321neo plane involved in the incident was less than two years old.
Passengers were able to return to the terminal through a ramp and loading bridge and then proceeded to U.S. Customs. One passenger, Ashwin Menon, shared his experience of the incident, stating that flight attendants had instructed everyone to drop their belongings and head towards the exits.
Despite some initial panic and jostling, the evacuation process went smoothly. Menon expressed his gratitude towards the first responders and the flight crew for guiding them through the unexpected situation.
Delta also issued a formal apology to passengers the next morning, along with some airline miles as compensation for the inconvenience caused. Menon expressed his relief that the incident occurred while the plane was still on the ground and not during the flight. He emphasized that although it was a frightening experience, everyone on board made it out safely.
NEW: We obtained surveillance video of the fire that led to the evacuation of a @Delta flight last week at @flySEA. The fire started in the nose of the aircraft after the ground power unit was connected. STORY: https://t.co/2RreZZfZSl @komonews pic.twitter.com/NsfxJv5FKJ
— Jeremy Harris (@JeremyHarrisTV) May 13, 2024
Further investigations are still ongoing regarding the cause of the fire.
