BOEING 757

Full Narrative

On July 24, 2026, about 14:32 Coordinated Universal Time, a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200, N662DN, powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW2037 turbofan engines, experienced a No. 1 (left) engine fire during initial climb from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia. The captain and first officer (FO) were uninjured. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a non-scheduled, maintenance ferry flight from ATL to Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO), Mexico.
According to the flight crew, the pre-flight, taxi, and takeoff were uneventful. The captain was the pilot flying and the FO was the pilot monitoring. While climbing through 12,000 ft, a L ENG FIRE MASTER WARNING was displayed on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) with an accompanying aural fire bell. The captain continued flying and the FO executed the engine fire checklist. The engine was successfully shutdown, one fire bottle was discharged, and the fire indication extinguished shortly thereafter. The crew declared an emergency, requested an immediate return to ATL, and performed an uneventful landing.
The crew did not observe any additional cockpit fire indications after landing and elected to vacate the runway and taxi to a gate. Post-landing inspection by airport rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) found sooting and thermal damage on the No. 1 engine and nacelle components, extending up toward the pylon structure. Subsequent inspection by Delta Airlines maintenance found a tear near the top of the outer diffuser case.

Figure 1: External engine condition


Figure 2: Top of outer diffuser case
The NTSB invited qualified parties to participate in the investigation, including the Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing Company, Delta Air Lines, and Pratt & Whitney. NTSB specialist support includes Flight Data Recorders and Powerplants.