MIAMI (AP) — An engine on a Delta Air Lines plane failed in midair over Florida, forcing the flight to make an emergency landing Sunday morning, authorities said.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the incident was a so-called “contained” engine failure, meaning small parts such as fan blades came out the back of the engine. A more dangerous scenario would have been if the pieces had penetrated the engine’s cover and were uncontained.
It was not immediately clear what caused the failure, Ms. Bergen said.
Sheriff’s deputies recovered pieces of what appeared to be the damaged engine from an area near the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, said Broward County Aviation Department spokesman Greg Meyer.
The plane returned to the airport shortly after its 7:45 a.m. takeoff and landed safely, Mr. Meyer said. The 140 passengers headed for Minneapolis were being rebooked on other flights.
A Delta spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
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