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WATCH: Delta Flight Aborts Takeoff At Atlanta Airport; 200 Passengers Evacuated

It was a Friday morning unlike any other at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. A heavy snowstorm blanketed the city, marking the most snowfall Atlanta had seen in seven years. But for the 201 passengers aboard Delta Flight 2668, the weather was just the beginning of an ordeal they wouldn't soon forget.

The flight was bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul and had just begun its takeoff roll when, shortly after 9 a.m., everything came to an abrupt halt. The Boeing 757-300 aircraft's engine signalled an issue, forcing the pilot to abort the takeoff, according to an ABC News report. What followed was a tense and urgent evacuation.

Delta Flight Aborts Takeoff At Atlanta
Photo Credit: Delta X

Passengers were instructed to leave the plane using emergency slides, descending onto the snowy tarmac as the airline crew worked to ensure everyone's safety. From there, ground transportation shuttled the shaken travellers back to the terminal.

Amid the chaos, four passengers sustained minor injuries. One was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the other three were attended to at the airport. The nature of their injuries remained unclear, but all passengers were reported safe.

Delta Airlines quickly issued a statement, apologising to customers for the incident. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers," the statement read. "We are working to support our customers and ensure they reach their destinations as safely and quickly as possible."

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it would investigate the engine issue.

Back at the airport, operations faced significant delays, not just from the flight incident but also due to the ongoing snowstorm. By midday, Atlanta had recorded two inches of snow, part of a massive winter storm sweeping across the South.

Across the country, the storm wreaked havoc on air travel, with over 2,600 flights cancelled by Friday afternoon. Cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Nashville bore the brunt of the disruptions.

For the passengers of Delta Flight 2668, it was a morning of fear, relief, and gratitude-an experience that served as a reminder of the extraordinary lengths taken to ensure their safety in the face of unexpected challenges.

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