A Delta Air Lines airplane set the runway grass on fire as it took off from a Georgia international airport bound for Atlanta, as passengers onboard feared for their lives.
Delta Flight 1067 quickly returned to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Sunday evening after its engine blew out during liftoff.
On board, the pilot of the flight was heard declaring an emergency on the Boeing 737-900, according to air traffic control audio heard by ABC affiliate WJCL.
'Everything ok? I saw a pretty large flame on takeoff,' the air traffic controller asked.
'We lost left engine straight out here for Delta 1067,' the pilot responded.
Another aircraft on the ground was instructed to move away after reports of the runway grass being set alight, as the controller was heard saying: 'We’re going to get a fire truck out there, that whole taxiway is on fire.'
The pilot on Flight 1067 asked if the fire was a result of the aircraft's engine failure during takeoff, to which the controller said: 'Unfortunately, when the engine blew, it set the whole grass on the left side of the airport on fire.'
Just after 6.30pm, emergency crews responded to the fire which did not affect the runway or any other flights out of the airport, the outlet reported.
As the plane landed back onto the runway, Thatcher recalled a dramatic and chaotic scene of emergency crews and fire lining the runway that no one on board 'fully expected'
Thatcher and his wife, Tanya, were on board holding hands as they feared for their lives on the Delta flight
Passenger Geoff Thatcher shared a photo of himself with Delta pilots Captain Evans Boeve and First Officer Hochstetler who were flying Flight 1067 as the fire erupted
Geoff Thatcher, a seasoned Delta Air Lines passenger onboard the terrifying flight, told the Daily Mail that everything seemed routine at first but a sudden loud noise during take off caused him and his wife to fear for their lives.
'I’ve flown more than 3 million miles on Delta and everything was normal. Just as we reached peek speed on the runway, we all heard a loud high-pitched POP,' Thatcher said.
Thatcher described their gradual climb into the air, and said: 'We ever so slowly gained altitude while my wife comforted the woman next to us.
'I took my wife Tanya’s had and we said, "Well, if we are going to go, I’d rather go together." We then talked about how our kids would be fine.'
'It was eerily quiet because of the left engine loss,' he continued. According to Thatcher, the flight's passengers had been warned before takeoff that winds were high.
'The gate agent had actually announced before we boarded, "If you are expecting a smooth flight to Atlanta, today is not the day for you,"' the designer recalled.
Thatcher said a pilot from another airline, who was sat behind him and his wife, got up to inspect the engine while the rest of the flight's passengers began to calm down.
'As we headed into our final descent, the captain came on one more time and said, and this was our favorite part, “Just wanted to let you know that as we land you’ll see a grass fire next to the runway. This is normal in situations like this and nothing to worry about."'
Flames and billowing smoke were seen along the runway from a video taken by a passenger onboard Flight 1067
Delta Flight 1067 turned around almost immediately after taking off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Sunday evening at around 6.45pm after its left engine blew out
But what Thatcher and every other passenger saw as they landed back onto the runway was a truly dramatic scene 'that none of us fully expected.'
'I mean, we landed and rolled past a burning runway with fire trucks lights blaring. We then stopped in the middle of the runway and the captain came on again and said, “Again, this is normal,"' he continued, adding that the pilot explained that the aircraft's tires would need to be inspected.
As the scene settled, the captain emerged from the cockpit and spoke to the aircraft passengers. Thatcher, recalling one line from their flight crew that stood out, said: 'I know everyone appreciated this line the most, 'I’m sure you were nervous for a few moments there and, if I'm being honest, we were a little nervous for a tiny bit as well."'
'When he finished talking, the plane broke out in applause. We all felt the same thing: The captain was an experienced professional and had the white hair to prove it,' the passenger said.
Around twenty minutes later, the aircraft was towed back to the gate and its passengers deplaned to be greeted by emergency services, Thatcher recalled.
A fire erupted as the runway's grass was set alight by the blown engine as the Delta flight took off the ground at around 6.30pm
Thatcher explained that no one saw any flames on board the flight, and theorized that all the 'sparks' from the engine failure must have shot out during takeoff. He obtained video of the fire on the ground as they circled above the runway onboard the aircraft.
'A big thank you to Delta Airlines Captain Boeve and First Officer Hochstetler. Professionalism personified,' Thatcher, who said he remains a big fan of the airline, wrote on Facebook.
'And they got a huge round of applause from the passengers as they took the microphone to communicate after they aviated and navigated us back safely to the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport after a blown engine.'
At around 7.15pm the flight landed back at Savannah airport with its 179 passengers, two pilots and four flight attendants.
Delta confirmed in a statement to the Daily Mail that a replacement aircraft was used later on Sunday evening to complete the flight.
'Delta flight 1067 from Savannah to Atlanta returned to the airport soon after takeoff Sunday evening, following a mechanical issue with the aircraft's left engine,' the statement said.
'The Boeing 737-900 landed safely and was met by ARFF, then customers deplaned normally at the gate.
'The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority. We apologize to our customers for this delay in their travels.'
The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement on Monday that an investigation into the incident would ensue.
'Delta Air Lines Flight 1067 safely returned to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport around 7:15 p.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 22, after an engine failed on departure. The Boeing 737 was headed to Atlanta. The FAA will investigate,' the statement said.
