Four passengers were injured when a Delta Airlines flight of the US bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul was evacuated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday morning after an engine issue forced the pilots to abort takeoff.

The incident occurred shortly after 9am on a Boeing 757-300 jet carrying 201 passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants.

Emergency slides were deployed to evacuate the passengers, who were then taken to a nearby concourse. Four passengers sustained minor injuries, with one transported to the hospital for treatment, according to airport officials. 

“Operations at ATL are delayed due to the incident and the ongoing severe weather,” an airport statement said.

Passenger Curtis James, who captured photos of the evacuation, reported seeing smoke and flames from one of the engines. “On takeoff, something went wrong and the engine caught fire. Had to emergency evacuate the plane,” James told CNN.

Delta Airlines has not confirmed whether the engine issue involved a fire but stated that the crew followed established protocols to suspend the takeoff. “Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight 2668 from Atlanta (ATL) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement.

“Four passengers are reporting minor injuries; one was transported, the remaining three were treated on scene,” according to a statement from the airport.

Flight tracking data indicates the plane was travelling at approximately 100mph when the takeoff was aborted, stopping about halfway down the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the incident, citing a "reported engine issue." The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is monitoring the event but has not launched an official investigation.

The evacuation unfolded amidst severe winter weather impacting Georgia and the Deep South, with snow, sleet, and icy conditions creating hazardous travel. Atlanta's airport, the world’s busiest, has faced significant disruptions, with over 400 flights canceled by midday Friday, representing more than 40% of scheduled departures.

Passengers described the scene as chaotic, with video footage showing smoke rising from the plane as evacuees stood on the tarmac in snowy conditions. Allison Wade, a passenger who filmed the evacuation, remarked, “This is crazy, so now we’re all standing out here, in Atlanta, in the snow.”

The airport extended a ground stop until 2pm local time due to the incident and ongoing weather challenges. Delta stated that evacuees were transported back to the terminal, and the airline is assisting passengers with rebooking and accommodations.