Hundreds Evacuated After Airplane Fire at Disney’s Most-Used Airport
A Delta Air Lines flight preparing for takeoff at Orlando International Airport (MCO) caught fire on Monday morning, prompting a dramatic evacuation of nearly 300 people. The incident occurred aboard Delta Flight 1213, an Airbus 330 scheduled to depart for Atlanta. All 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots were safely evacuated after one of the aircraft’s engines caught fire while the plane was pushing back from the gate.
Orlando International Airport is the busiest airport for Walt Disney World Resort guests and serves as the main arrival hub for millions of Central Florida theme park visitors each year. Monday’s engine fire added a tense moment to what was supposed to be the end of a magical vacation for many.
Initial reports confirm that the fire broke out around 11:15 a.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials acted quickly, deploying Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting teams to the scene. Evacuation slides were deployed as smoke came from the plane’s engine. The fire was extinguished without injury.
Dylan Wallace (@dylangwall) shared footage of the emergency on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “A Delta flight just caught on fire at the Orlando Airport 😳.” The videos show emergency slides deployed on the tarmac and passengers exiting the aircraft in a hurry.
A Delta flight just caught on fire at the Orlando Airport 😳 pic.twitter.com/kmksyx5QIu
— Dylan (@dylangwall) April 21, 2025
MCO officials later confirmed the fire in a public statement:
Today at approximately 11:06am, Delta Air Lines flight 1213 experienced an engine fire while at the ramp area, prior to departure. Passengers were evacuated. Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting team promptly responded. For inquiries, please contact Delta Air Lines directly.
Today at approximately 11:06am, Delta Air Lines flight 1213 experienced an engine fire while at the ramp area, prior to departure. Passengers were evacuated. Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting team promptly responded. For inquiries, please contact Delta Air Lines directly.
— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) April 21, 2025
Delta responded shortly after, stating, “We appreciate our customers’ cooperation and apologize for the experience. Nothing is more important than safety and Delta teams will work to get our customers to their final destinations as soon as possible.” A replacement aircraft will continue the journey to Atlanta.
The incident has renewed concerns about flight safety, particularly after several high-profile aviation incidents earlier this year. In January, a fatal mid-air collision involving a military helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft at Reagan National Airport left 67 dead. In March, a narrowly avoided collision between a private jet and a Southwest Airlines passenger plane at Chicago Midway Airport sparked alarm among travelers.
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