A terrified Delta Airlines passenger described the moment the engine burst into flames on a London-bound flight and said the experience was like a scene from a gut-wrenching film Final Destination.
Smoked spewed from the Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta to Heathrow just 30-minutes after take-off on Wednesday.
Irish Karla Cantre Bumanglag, 25, from Bath, Somerset, said she felt like she was on a rollercoaster as passengers watched the drama unfold through the windows.
“The plane went on a few dips like on a roller coaster and side to side, I thought it was turbulence. Then the in-flight entertainment went off and from that moment I knew something was wrong,” she said.
Ms Bumanglag said passengers were not immediately aware of what was happening, but began to panic when they lifted the window blinds and saw white smoke coming from the engine.
“There was no smoke inside but when people by the window seats lifted their blinds that's when we saw the smoke…the film Final Destination came to my mind,” she said.
Despite flight attendants remaining clam, Ms Bumanglag said some passengers were scared.
“Flight attendants handled it calmly. We were scared especially what happened the day before with Southwest,” she said.
The pilot was forced to immediately return to Atlanta Airport where people on the ground reported seeing smoke billowing from the jet after it landed at about 6pm (local time).
The 274 passengers and 14 crew members remained on board until the fire had been brought under control and the plane was towed to a gate. British WWE wrestler “Big Wavy” Roy Johnson was among the passengers eventually allowed to disembark before being transferred to another flight two hours later.
Witnesses shared photos of the dramatic scenes as thick white smoke rose from the aircraft as fire crews attempted to put out the blaze.
Johnson, 33, from Croydon, tweeted: “The staff and crew acted quickly and got us off the plane safely and calmly which is the main and most important thing but still.” He later tweeted: “I’m usually lights out when I get on a plane but having a bit of a wobbler on this rearranged flight.”
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Atlanta Airport confirmed the emergency landing, saying that firefighters hosed down the jet’s huge engines to bring the flames under control.
It added that there were no reported injuries.
A spokesman for the airline said: “Delta flight 30 from Atlanta to London returned to Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday after an issue with its number 2 engine.
“The flight landed without incident and airport response vehicles met the aircraft upon arrival.
“The airplane was towed to the gate, where customers deplaned through the jetway and will be accommodated on a different aircraft.
“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologise to our customers on this flight.”
