'This is not good': Raleigh passenger says he saw flames, wing shaking before emergency landing on Delta flight

A passenger shared his frightening encounter aboard a Delta Air Lines flight forced to land at Greensboro's Piedmont Triad International Airport just minutes after takeoff at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

The Atlanta-bound flight took off from RDU at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday and landed at GSO 20 minutes later.

On Monday, a spokesperson from Delta said the flight was diverted due to a mechanical issue with an engine and provided the following statement:

"Delta flight 1590 from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to Atlanta (ATL) diverted and landed safely in Greensboro, N.C. (GSO) due to a mechanical issue. Delta teams worked to get customers to their final destinations yesterday, and we apologize for their delay in travel. The safety of Delta’s customers and employees is always our top priority."

The Boeing 737-900 aircraft had 142 passengers and six crew members on board, according to Delta.

'I don't think I've ever valued life the way I do now'

Marcus Anderson, from Raleigh, was one of the passengers.

Anderson was sitting in the aisle near the wing of the plane, where the engine is located. He said he looked out the window and couldn't believe what he saw.

"About 20 minutes into the flight, I'm watching a show on my phone ... and I hear this noise through my noise canceling headphones," Anderson described. "I see this light and this flickering ... and I couldn't believe it, I'm like, that can't be fire."

Anderson said he tapped his neighbor on the shoulder and asked, "Is that fire?" He said the man appeared to be in shock and did not answer.

"I lean over and look, and I'm seeing flames... and the wing is shaking," Anderson said. "I'm thinking this is not good... this can't be happening, because you always see it in movies."

Anderson said he went into "panic mode," texting his daughters and family to tell them he loves them.

"I didn't know what was going to happen next... there was a high level of panic," he said. "My heart was racing; I was in shock."

Anderson said it felt like the plane was pulling to one side, and at one point he thought it was going to crash.

That's when the pilot made an announcement, telling passengers the plane would make an emergency landing in Greensboro.

Firetrucks met the plane, which taxied to a gate, and all passengers made it off the plane safely.

When he made it back home to Raleigh, Anderson was in tears seeing his family.

"I don't think I've ever valued life the way I do now," Anderson said, adding he will probably seek therapy after the traumatizing experience.