Engine fire startles Delta passengers

[dbaker]

Engine fire startles Delta passengers

TAMPA, Florida (CNN) -- Flames in a Delta Airlines jet engine preparing for take-off from Tampa International Airport Monday morning unnerved some passengers who activated and used the plane's emergency escape chutes, a Delta spokeswoman said.

Catherine Stengel said Flight 1036 experienced a "hot start" after it pulled back from the gate and started its engines.

"That's when flames come out of the engine," she said. "It is normal."

[tycoonjack]

Fire on Delta jet at Tampa International injures 12

Twelve Delta Air Lines passengers suffered minor injuries Monday when their Boeing 757 had to be evacuated when a fireball shot from the engine when it was started, officials said.

Delta flight 1036 to Atlanta was leaving the gate at Tampa International Airport at about 7:15 a.m. when the pilots noticed a small fireball shoot from an engine when it was turned on, said Bill Wade, a Tampa Fire Department spokesman. About 170 people were on the plane.

The evacuation chutes were deployed and some passengers sprained ankles and other minor injuries when they slid down, officials said. They were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Nothing like the AP to confuse what happened