What was supposed to be a routine overnight hop from Brazil to Georgia turned tense on Sunday night, when an Atlanta-bound Delta Air Lines Airbus was forced to circle back to São Paulo/Guarulhos right after takeoff because of an engine problem. The widebody jet, carrying 272 customers and 14 crew, landed safely with no injuries, as airport rescue units waited on the tarmac just in case.
After the jet rolled to a stop, passengers were taken by bus back to the terminal while ground crews moved in to inspect the aircraft. Delta teams scrambled to rebook disrupted travelers and lined up hotel rooms for those who would not be getting out of Brazil until at least the next day.
What Happened On Takeoff
According to 11Alive, Delta said Flight 104, an Airbus A330-300 operating from São Paulo to Atlanta, returned to São Paulo/Guarulhos after a mechanical issue with the left engine during departure. The airline told the outlet that the aircraft was met on arrival by airport rescue and firefighting teams, and that no injuries were reported among customers or crew.
Once the aircraft was parked, passengers were escorted off and bussed back to the terminal while aviation teams began inspecting the twin-engine jet.
Flight Tracking And Passenger Video
Flight tracking data show DL104 turning back to GRU shortly after liftoff, according to Flightradar24, and flight history entries also record the aircraft returning to the airport instead of continuing north to Atlanta.
On social media, videos that users say were taken from inside the aircraft appeared to show sparks and flames coming from the left engine during the takeoff roll and climb. Those clips, along with passenger accounts, were shared and dissected in online community threads such as on Reddit.
Delta's Response And Passenger Care
Delta told 11Alive that customers on Flight 104 were rebooked to their final destinations and that overnight hotel accommodations were provided for those affected by the delay. The airline said ground teams inspected the aircraft while airport emergency crews remained in place during the checks.
For travelers trying to get to the United States, Delta added that it was working through its broader U.S. network to reroute customers and cut down on missed connections as much as possible.
DL104 is a regular São Paulo to Atlanta service, and flight history pages list the route as typically operated with an A330-series aircraft, according to AirNavRadar. The aircraft involved will undergo maintenance checks and inspections before it returns to regular passenger service, and Delta customers on the route may see some schedule and aircraft shuffles while the airline sorts out equipment and crew rotations.
