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Delta flight evacuated after smoke pours from engines before take-off

A Delta Air Lines flight from San Francisco to Detroit had to disembark passengers after plumes of smoke were seen pouring from one of its engines prior to take-off.

The flight, which was due to depart San Francisco on Sunday evening, was aborted following the discovery and frightened passengers were evacuated from the plane.

The moment was captured on camera by passengers on-board the fated Delta flight who can be heard saying, “Can you smell that? Is there a fire out there?”

Jennifer Hammond, a Fox 2 reporter who was on the flight, commended the cabin crew in an Instagram post, before confirming everyone was safe and had been transferred to a new plane. “A few folks may need new underwear,” she quipped.

The faulty aircraft, which was reported to have been carrying 229 passengers, was returned to the airport terminal, while passengers bound for the Motor City were transported to another plane. According to the Evening Standard, the plane departed as normal on Monday evening.

A spokesperson for Delta said: “The safety of Delta’s customers and crew is always our top priority and Delta maintenance technicians are evaluating the original aircraft.”

Jeff Holloway, a passenger on the flight, described the defective engine as sounding like a tyre had blown.

In April this year, a Heathrow-bound Delta flight from Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing after one of its engines caught fire.

Just minutes after becoming airborne, smoke began billowing from the engine, forcing the pilot to return to Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport.

Fire crew greeted the malfunctioning aircraft and tackled the blaze. All passenger and cabin crew alighted safely and without injury.

In a statement, Delta said: “The flight landed without incident and airport response vehicles met the aircraft upon arrival.

“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologise to our customers on this flight.”