A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300 returned safely to São Paulo Guarulhos Airport on March 29, 2026, shortly after takeoff for Atlanta due to a left engine failure that produced flames and sparks.
Operating as Delta Flight 104, the aircraft registration N813NW, an A330-323 built in 2006 and powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine, carried 272 passengers and 14 crew members. Video footage from inside the cabin and from the ground captured sustained flames trailing from the left engine for over a minute as the jet climbed and turned back.
Delta described the incident as a mechanical issue with the left engine. Airport rescue and firefighting teams met the plane upon landing, and passengers were bused to the terminal. No injuries occurred, and some reports indicate passengers were later rebooked.
Brazil’s Cenipa aviation investigation agency and the US Federal Aviation Administration are probing the event, with Pratt & Whitney providing support. No cause has been determined as of March 30.
The incident disrupted Guarulhos operations, leading to 28 flight cancellations and 14 diversions according to local media. Delta emphasized safety as its top priority and apologized for the inconvenience, but provided no timeline for the aircraft’s return to service.