- Date
- January 10, 2025, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Atlanta, GA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 7 minor, 201 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N589NWBoeing 757
- Defining event
- Standing: Evacuation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2025
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 199530
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Substantial injury to a passenger sustained during evacuation.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Delta Air Lines flight 2668, a Boeing 757-300, performed a rejected takeoff due to a failure of the number two (right) engine during takeoff from runway 9L at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). An emergency evacuation was initiated after the airplane stopped on the runway. One passenger sustained a serious injury, and seven passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation. The flight crew stated that after completing all required preflight briefings and checklists, they were pushed back from the gate and taxied to the Ramp 6 South de-ice pad. The aircraft received Type I and Type IV fluid treatments, but due to reaccumulated contaminants, the de-icing process had to be restarted. Following a second round of de-icing, both engines were shut down and inspected for ice. The de-ice crew confirmed the aircraft and engines were clear of contaminants, and the engines were restarted. The aircraft then taxied to Runway 9L and was cleared for takeoff. The crew initiated takeoff, and at around 100 knots, the captain observed a directional control issue and decided to abort the takeoff. The First Officer notified air traffic control (ATC), and the aircraft was brought to a stop, and the parking brake was set. A public announcement was made for the passengers to remain seated. After the airplane was stopped, the flight crew noted multiple engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS) messages indicated a failure of the number two engine. The captain requested aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) assistance, and the flight crew initiated the engine failure checklist. During this time, an airport operations vehicle reported flames coming from the right engine, although there were no cockpit indications of an engine fire. Additionally, flight attendants were informed by passengers of a fire near the right engine. While the crew continued the engine shut down checklist, flight attendants contacted the cockpit to report the visible fire on the wing. The captain then initiated the evacuation checklist and called for an evacuation. The cabin evacuation procedures were executed by the flight attendants, and the passengers and crew exited using the emergency slides. After evacuating the airplane, the passengers were grouped on both sides of the aircraft and waited for buses to return them to the terminal. Eight passengers reported minor injuries, and two of those were transported to the hospital for further examination. One was treated and released, and the other was diagnosed with a compression fracture to one of their vertebrae.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N589NW
- Reported as
- Boeing 757 (351)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32989
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 74,356
- Engines
- P & W PW2040, 41,700 lbs thrust, turbo fanP & W PW2040, 41,700 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner
- Delta Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · January 3, 2025
- Destination
- MSP · Minneapolis, MN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ATL · Hartsfield/Jackson Atlanta Intl, runway 09L/27R, 12,390 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 27, 2024
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 4,875 total · 459 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 73 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 6, 2024
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 4,826 total · 1,067 in this make and model · 950 as pilot in command · 189 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KATL
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.