Delta Boeing 757 Aborted Takeoff and Slide Evacuation in Atlanta

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

On January 10, 2025, Delta Air Lines Flight 2668, a Boeing 757-300, rejected takeoff on runway 9L at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, during snowy conditions. The aircraft was evacuated on the runway using emergency slides after the crew stopped the airplane and received indications of a right-engine failure, along with outside reports of visible flames near the engine. One passenger sustained a serious injury, and seven passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.

Accident Summary

What Happened

According to the NTSB final report, the Delta flight was preparing to depart Atlanta for Minneapolis after the aircraft underwent deicing during winter weather conditions. The airplane received Type I and Type IV fluid treatments, and because contaminants reaccumulated, the deicing process had to be repeated. After a second round of deicing and inspection, the aircraft taxied to runway 9L and was cleared for takeoff.

During the takeoff roll, at about 100 knots, the captain observed a directional-control issue and rejected the takeoff. After the aircraft came to a stop, cockpit indications showed a failure of the number two (right) engine. The crew requested aircraft rescue and fire fighting assistance and began the engine failure checklist. Airport personnel and cabin reports then indicated visible flames near the right engine and wing area, and the captain initiated an evacuation. Passengers and crew exited using emergency slides and were later transported back to the terminal.

Aircraft and Operational Context

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 757-300 operated by Delta Air Lines on a scheduled Part 121 passenger flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis. The airplane was operating in daytime winter weather conditions, and the runway surface was reported as wet and snow-covered. The event occurred after repeated deicing activity and during a takeoff attempt in a cold-weather operational environment.

Rejected takeoffs can arise from a range of abnormal conditions, including engine failures, directional-control issues, or other cues suggesting that continued acceleration is unsafe. When an evacuation follows a rejected takeoff, investigators typically examine not only the mechanical event itself, but also the crew’s decision-making timeline, the stopping sequence, the information available about possible fire, and the manner in which the evacuation was carried out on the runway surface.

Accident Investigation

Events involving a rejected takeoff and slide evacuation are typically evaluated through a staged process that includes crew statements, maintenance review, aircraft inspection, airport records, and emergency-response documentation, consistent with the approach described in our overview of the NTSB investigation process. In this case, the NTSB issued a final report identifying the event as Delta Air Lines Flight 2668, a Boeing 757-300, registration N589NW.

The NTSB reported that the flight crew stopped the airplane after observing a directional-control issue during the takeoff roll, and that subsequent cockpit indications showed failure of the number two engine. The final report classified the event as an evacuation occurrence and identified one serious passenger injury and seven minor passenger injuries during the evacuation. The report stated the probable cause as substantial injury to a passenger sustained during evacuation.

Operational and Regulatory Issues

Rejected takeoffs and emergency evacuations involve distinct operational judgments. A rejected takeoff focuses first on stopping the airplane safely within the remaining runway environment, while an evacuation requires rapid assessment of whether conditions inside or outside the aircraft justify immediate exit. In this event, the record included both cockpit indications of engine failure and outside reports of visible flames, making the timing and basis of the evacuation decision a central operational issue.

Winter operations also added complexity. The aircraft had undergone repeated deicing, the runway surface was wet and snow-covered, and passengers evacuated onto a cold, contaminated airfield surface. Investigators in events like this commonly evaluate how weather, runway condition, emergency communications, and the evacuation pathway interact to affect both safety outcomes and injury patterns.

Aviation Accident Litigation

Separate from any safety review, passenger injury claims arising from runway evacuations commonly focus on the circumstances leading to the evacuation decision, the condition of the evacuation route and surrounding surface, and the causal relationship between the evacuation sequence and specific injuries, as outlined in our overview of aviation accident litigation attorneys. Because evacuations can produce significant injuries even where the aircraft itself sustains only minor damage, the factual record often includes crew procedures, cabin crew actions, emergency-response timing, and medical documentation.

Depending on the technical and operational record developed after the event, civil analysis may involve the aircraft’s mechanical condition, maintenance history, engine-related indications, winter-operations procedures, and the coordination between the airline, airport operations, and rescue personnel. In a case involving reported flames near an engine after a rejected takeoff, the timing, reliability, and interpretation of the available cues can become especially important.

Where aviation matters resolve, outcomes typically depend on individualized proof of causation and damages, together with the completeness of the operational and medical record. For broader context on how injury severity and event type can influence case posture over time, see the firm’s discussion of aviation crash verdict trends.

Consultation Regarding Aviation Accident Investigations

Families, referring attorneys, and journalists sometimes seek legal consultation or technical insight regarding aviation accidents and investigative issues discussed in these analyses. Inquiries may be directed to Katzman, Lampert & Stoll at the link below.

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