On Mar 29th 2026, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-300, registration N813NW, operating flight DL-104 from São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport to Atlanta, was forced to make an emergency return shortly after takeoff following a dramatic engine malfunction.
The aircraft, carrying 272 passengers and 14 crew, had just departed runway 10L and was climbing out when the left-hand Pratt & Whitney PW4168 engine began producing a series of loud bangs. Witnesses described streaks of flames, sparks, and debris ejecting from the engine, while air traffic control alerted the crew to visible fire near the wing.
The situation escalated further when debris falling from the engine ignited a brush fire within the airport perimeter, underscoring the severity of the failure.
The flight crew promptly halted the climb at approximately 4,500 feet and initiated a return to Guarulhos. Maintaining full control of the aircraft, they conducted a safe landing back on runway 10L about 11 minutes after departure, where emergency services were already standing by.
Despite the intensity of the event, all passengers and crew remained safe, and no injuries were reported.
The flight was subsequently cancelled, and the aircraft remained grounded in São Paulo for extensive inspections roughly 15 hours after the incident.
In a statement, the airline described the event as a mechanical problem involving the left engine.
Brazil’s Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the engine failure.
Such high-energy engine events, while rare, highlight the importance of rigorous maintenance and crew preparedness, with this incident demonstrating how swift decision-making can prevent a potentially far more serious outcome.
