[Watch] Delta Boeing 767 Makes Emergency Landing at Los Angeles After Engine Fire Mid-Air

Los Angeles: A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Thursday after one of its engines caught fire mid-air, triggering panic among passengers and prompting swift action by the flight crew.

Flight DL446, a Boeing 767-400ER, had just taken off from LAX when flames were seen shooting out of the aircraft’s left engine. The dramatic incident was captured on video by onlookers, showing bright flashes and fire erupting from the engine as the jet climbed into the sky. Within minutes, the pilots declared an emergency and initiated a return to Los Angeles.

According to flight data and eyewitness reports, the aircraft, flying at an altitude of around 3,000 feet, circled briefly over the Downey and Paramount areas before safely touching down at LAX. Emergency responders and fire crews were on standby and immediately responded upon landing. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

The aircraft involved is a 24-year-old Boeing 767 powered by GE CF6 engines, registered under tail number N836MH. Delta confirmed that the plane returned to the airport “out of an abundance of caution” and that its maintenance teams would conduct a full inspection.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the cause of the engine fire. Preliminary information suggests a possible engine component failure, though the exact cause remains under review.

This marks the second engine-related incident for Delta in 2025. In April, a Boeing 757 experienced an engine stall and smoke event while departing from Orlando, also prompting an emergency landing.

The Boeing 767 involved in Thursday’s incident is part of Delta’s aging wide-body fleet, which continues to serve long-haul domestic and international routes. Aviation analysts say the successful handling of the emergency highlights the crew’s adherence to protocol and the importance of routine safety drills, but also raises questions about continued reliance on older aircraft.

Passengers aboard Flight DL446 were accommodated on a replacement aircraft later in the day. Delta apologized for the disruption and said it is cooperating fully with federal authorities.