Delta Plane Makes Emergency Landing In Seattle

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 flying from Anchorage to Atlanta made an emergency landing at SeaTac airport after what an airport spokesman said was an engine fire.

There were no injuries and the plane landed safely, an airport spokesman said. It took off from Anchorage with 255 passengers and eight crew on board, Delta said in a statement.

The spokesman said a fire in one of its two engines erupted mid-flight but the pilots were able to extinguish the flames by shutting down the engine. He added that the fire was out by the time the plane landed.

Delta said its preliminary investigation showed the engine experienced a power surge.

"While it's still early and technicians are continuing their look at the engine, this was not an outright fire," said airline spokesman Morgan Durrant.

Firefighters met the plane upon landing. There were no injuries reported.

Durrant said the carrier gave customers snacks and blankets while they waited for a replacement plane in Seattle.

"Though rare, jet engines are designed to handle (a power surge) and it can result in an engine tailpipe flame as fuel and oxygen are expunged from the surging engine," Durrant said. "It's a safety design feature."