Winter storm: Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 evacuated due to engine issues on takeoff

More than 200 passengers of a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Minneapolis had to evacuate at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) on January 10, 2025, due to reported Boeing 757 engine issues.

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-300 aircraft, registered as N589NW, operating flight DL2668 from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) to Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), when the flight crew decided to abort take-off due to engine issues. Delta Air Lines confirmed the incident, stating:

As a result of the aborted take-off, passengers on the flight were forced to evacuate the Boeing 757 aircraft via emergency slides.

According to a statement by ATL airport, four people experienced minor injuries, with one having been transported to the hospital and the remaining three having been treated on the scene.

Flights at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport were delayed due to the incident and the ongoing severe weather. The National Weather Service warned residents to stay home if they did not need to be out on the roads.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a statement regarding the Delta Air Lines incident. The US aviation regulator said:

“The crew of Delta Air Lines Flight 2668 aborted take-off at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport around 9:05 a.m. local time on Friday, Jan. 10, due to a reported engine issue. Passengers exited the aircraft on the runway. The FAA will investigate.”

It is worth noting that the airline’s Boeing 757 is currently standing on the ground at ATL airport, according to Flightradar24.com.

However, the flight tracking data reveals that the narrowbody will operate a scheduled flight from Atlanta (ATL) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) on January 11, 2025.

It is worth noting that the aircraft in question is Delta’s 22-year-old Boeing 757-300, capable of seating up to 234 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 24 in business class, 32 in economy plus, and 178 in economy class.

As per ch-aviation data, the airliner clocked a total of 73,270 flight hours and 23,992 flight cycles as of July 31, 2024.

While they are not common, much like go-arounds, aborted take-offs may have to be performed from time to time.

An aborted-take-off is when an aircraft begins accelerating down the runway in order to take off. However, due to a variety of reasons, the aircraft brakes and comes to a halt before reaching the end of the runway.

There are several different reasons why a pilot may choose to abort a take-off. These can range from engine problems to something just not feeling quite right and even unexpected traffic within close proximity.

After all, it is better to be safe and to err on the side of caution. Below, find Simple Flying's complete guide on rejected take-offs.