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Delta Flight to Portland Aborts Takeoff at MSP Due to Mechanical Issue
Delta Flight to Portland Aborts Takeoff at MSP Due to Mechanical Issue
MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL — A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Portland, Oregon (PDX), was forced to abort takeoff at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP) on Thursday afternoon after the flight crew reported a mechanical issue during departure.
The incident involved Delta Flight 1661, which was accelerating for takeoff when pilots suddenly halted the attempt and safely taxied the aircraft back to the gate. According to Delta, all passengers and crew were unharmed, and the decision to suspend takeoff was made out of “an abundance of caution.”
In a written statement, the airline confirmed the mechanical issue and detailed the response.
“Delta Flight 1661 from Minneapolis to Portland returned to the gate this evening following an aborted takeoff due to a mechanical issue,” the statement read. “Customers have been re-accommodated on another aircraft and will land in Portland approximately two hours late. We apologize to our customers for their delay in travel.”
Local media reports and passenger videos suggest the problem originated from the aircraft’s right engine, with witnesses describing a visible flash or “gout of flame” as the plane accelerated down the runway. Air traffic control audio obtained by KSTP indicated that the crew cited a “right engine failure,” and controllers later reported debris on the runway.
Emergency crews, including a fire truck, were requested to the scene as a precaution, and the affected runway was temporarily closed for inspection before the aircraft was cleared to taxi back to the terminal under its own power.
Flight tracking data confirmed that passengers were transferred to a replacement aircraft, which departed later in the evening and arrived in Portland roughly two to two-and-a-half hours behind schedule.
Delta reiterated that passenger safety remains its highest priority and said it would continue to investigate the cause of the mechanical issue.
The incident follows a similar precautionary event last month at MSP, when another Delta flight aborted takeoff due to an unrelated cockpit issue. Both cases underscore standard aviation safety protocols that prioritize immediate response to potential mechanical concerns before takeoff.
