Delta airline flight from Lagos to Atlanta catches fire, 5 injured

A Delta Airline flight 55 from Lagos to Atlanta, United States
returned to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport onTuesday
night after an issue with one of the A330-200’s two engines.

The flight which was said to have initially pushed back at
22:40hrs had air return and emergency landing at 23:16hrs, when the
pilot announced the evacuation of all the passengers on board
within 90 seconds, after contacting the control tower as the left
engine of the aircraft was said to have caught fire mid air
in-flight.

According to the airline, the flight landed safely and customers
exited the aircraft on the runway via emergency slides, adding that
airport fire authorities met the aircraft upon arrival.

The airline said in a statement, “Delta is aware of five
customers reporting non-critical injuries as a result of the
evacuation.

“Delta teams have provided overnight hotel accommodations to
customers and will rebook customers on an alternate Delta aircraft
on Wednesday. The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is
always our top priority.”

An eyewitness said a number of crew and passenger casualties
were recorded and had been taken to hospitals around the airport
for treatment.

A Delta Airline flight 55 from Lagos to Atlanta, United States
returned to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport onTuesday
night after an issue with one of the A330-200’s two
engines.

The flight which was said to have initially pushed back at
22:40hrs had air return and emergency landing at 23:16hrs, when the
pilot announced the evacuation of all the passengers on board
within 90 seconds, after contacting the control tower as the left
engine of the aircraft was said to have caught fire mid air
in-flight.

According to the airline, the flight landed safely and customers
exited the aircraft on the runway via emergency slides, adding that
airport fire authorities met the aircraft upon arrival.

The airline said in a statement, “Delta is aware of five
customers reporting non-critical injuries as a result of the
evacuation.

“Delta teams have provided overnight hotel accommodations to
customers and will rebook customers on an alternate Delta aircraft
on Wednesday. The safety of Delta’s customers and crew members is
always our top priority.”

An eyewitness said a number of crew and passenger casualties
were recorded and had been taken to hospitals around the airport
for treatment.