diff --git a/crates/iceberg/src/scan/context.rs b/crates/iceberg/src/scan/context.rs
index fe3f5c8f7e..f28b6b0901 100644
--- a/crates/iceberg/src/scan/context.rs
+++ b/crates/iceberg/src/scan/context.rs
@@ -194,7 +194,17 @@ impl PlanContext {
         delete_file_idx: DeleteFileIndex,
         delete_file_tx: Sender<ManifestEntryContext>,
     ) -> Result<Box<impl Iterator<Item = Result<ManifestFileContext>> + 'static>> {
-        let manifest_files = manifest_list.entries().iter();
+        let mut manifest_files = manifest_list.entries().iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        // Sort manifest files to process delete manifests first.
+        // This avoids a deadlock where the producer blocks on sending data manifest entries
+        // (because the data channel is full) while the delete manifest consumer is waiting
+        // for delete manifest entries (which haven't been produced yet).
+        // By processing delete manifests first, we ensure the delete consumer can finish,
+        // which then allows the data consumer to start draining the data channel.
+        manifest_files.sort_by_key(|m| match m.content {
+            ManifestContentType::Deletes => 0,
+            ManifestContentType::Data => 1,
+        });
 
         // TODO: Ideally we could ditch this intermediate Vec as we return an iterator.
         let mut filtered_mfcs = vec![];
diff --git a/crates/iceberg/src/scan/mod.rs b/crates/iceberg/src/scan/mod.rs
index d83da8a879..1f7fa50df8 100644
--- a/crates/iceberg/src/scan/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/iceberg/src/scan/mod.rs
@@ -1170,6 +1170,97 @@ pub mod tests {
                 writer.close().unwrap();
             }
         }
+
+        pub async fn setup_deadlock_manifests(&mut self) {
+            let current_snapshot = self.table.metadata().current_snapshot().unwrap();
+            let _parent_snapshot = current_snapshot
+                .parent_snapshot(self.table.metadata())
+                .unwrap();
+            let current_schema = current_snapshot.schema(self.table.metadata()).unwrap();
+            let current_partition_spec = self.table.metadata().default_partition_spec();
+
+            // 1. Write DATA manifest with MULTIPLE entries to fill buffer
+            let mut writer = ManifestWriterBuilder::new(
+                self.next_manifest_file(),
+                Some(current_snapshot.snapshot_id()),
+                None,
+                current_schema.clone(),
+                current_partition_spec.as_ref().clone(),
+            )
+            .build_v2_data();
+
+            // Add 10 data entries
+            for i in 0..10 {
+                writer
+                    .add_entry(
+                        ManifestEntry::builder()
+                            .status(ManifestStatus::Added)
+                            .data_file(
+                                DataFileBuilder::default()
+                                    .partition_spec_id(0)
+                                    .content(DataContentType::Data)
+                                    .file_path(format!("{}/{}.parquet", &self.table_location, i))
+                                    .file_format(DataFileFormat::Parquet)
+                                    .file_size_in_bytes(100)
+                                    .record_count(1)
+                                    .partition(Struct::from_iter([Some(Literal::long(100))]))
+                                    .key_metadata(None)
+                                    .build()
+                                    .unwrap(),
+                            )
+                            .build(),
+                    )
+                    .unwrap();
+            }
+            let data_manifest = writer.write_manifest_file().await.unwrap();
+
+            // 2. Write DELETE manifest
+            let mut writer = ManifestWriterBuilder::new(
+                self.next_manifest_file(),
+                Some(current_snapshot.snapshot_id()),
+                None,
+                current_schema.clone(),
+                current_partition_spec.as_ref().clone(),
+            )
+            .build_v2_deletes();
+
+            writer
+                .add_entry(
+                    ManifestEntry::builder()
+                        .status(ManifestStatus::Added)
+                        .data_file(
+                            DataFileBuilder::default()
+                                .partition_spec_id(0)
+                                .content(DataContentType::PositionDeletes)
+                                .file_path(format!("{}/del.parquet", &self.table_location))
+                                .file_format(DataFileFormat::Parquet)
+                                .file_size_in_bytes(100)
+                                .record_count(1)
+                                .partition(Struct::from_iter([Some(Literal::long(100))]))
+                                .build()
+                                .unwrap(),
+                        )
+                        .build(),
+                )
+                .unwrap();
+            let delete_manifest = writer.write_manifest_file().await.unwrap();
+
+            // Write to manifest list - DATA FIRST then DELETE
+            // This order is crucial for reproduction
+            let mut manifest_list_write = ManifestListWriter::v2(
+                self.table
+                    .file_io()
+                    .new_output(current_snapshot.manifest_list())
+                    .unwrap(),
+                current_snapshot.snapshot_id(),
+                current_snapshot.parent_snapshot_id(),
+                current_snapshot.sequence_number(),
+            );
+            manifest_list_write
+                .add_manifests(vec![data_manifest, delete_manifest].into_iter())
+                .unwrap();
+            manifest_list_write.close().await.unwrap();
+        }
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -2127,4 +2218,38 @@ pub mod tests {
             "_file column (duplicate) should use RunEndEncoded type"
         );
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_scan_deadlock() {
+        let mut fixture = TableTestFixture::new();
+        fixture.setup_deadlock_manifests().await;
+
+        // Create table scan with concurrency limit 1
+        // This sets channel size to 1.
+        // Data manifest has 10 entries -> will block producer.
+        // Delete manifest is 2nd in list -> won't be processed.
+        // Consumer 2 (Data) not started -> blocked.
+        // Consumer 1 (Delete) waiting -> blocked.
+        let table_scan = fixture
+            .table
+            .scan()
+            .with_concurrency_limit(1)
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // This should timeout/hang if deadlock exists
+        // We can use tokio::time::timeout
+        let result = tokio::time::timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5), async {
+            table_scan
+                .plan_files()
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .try_collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .await
+        })
+        .await;
+
+        // Assert it finished (didn't timeout)
+        assert!(result.is_ok(), "Scan timed out - deadlock detected");
+    }
 }