SEATTLE, Wa. — Passengers aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Alaska, diverted after major engine trouble, have started to arrive in Atlanta.
Channel 2's Aaron Diamant talked to passengers who described their frightening ordeal.
The passengers started arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport about nine hours late after an unscheduled stop in Seattle, where they told Channel 2's sister station, KIRO-TV, about some terrifying moments.
"All of a sudden it was very real," said passenger Stephanie Woods.
Woods took several dramatic pictures of flames shooting from an airplane engine during an overnight Delta flight from Anchorage, Alaska to Atlanta.
"And the flames were coming out and it was very scary, and I was sitting with my two girls, just trying to keep them calm," Woods said.
A Delta Air Lines representative told Diamant the captain of the Boeing 767 saw an indicator light come on in the cockpit, shut down the engine and made an emergency landing in Seattle.
"We knew we were going to go down and they informed us how to put our hands on the thing and cover our heads and it was going to be really rocky and where all the exits were," Woods said.
The plane landed without incident or injuries. At this point, the airline believes the engine experienced a power surge. It says the flames came as fuel and oxygen were expunged -- a safety design feature.
"The staff of the airplane, the pilot and his crew did a great job," passenger Tammy McCann said.
The plane carried eight crew members and 255 passengers.
The airline gave those on board blankets and snacks during their unscheduled layover before dividing them up among two Thursday morning flights back to Atlanta.
"I don't think it's going to keep me from flying again, because you know, you got to get where you're going, but it was scary, but I'm glad the ending was as good as it was," McCann said.
WSBTV
