LOS ANGELES (BN24) — A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 was forced to make an emergency landing back at Los Angeles International Airport after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff, sending flames erupting beneath the aircraft and sparking panic among onlookers.
Flight 446, bound for Atlanta, experienced a dramatic engine malfunction soon after departing from LAX, according to video footage and a statement from the airline. In the video, the plane can be seen veering slightly mid-ascent as flames shoot from its left engine. A witness recording the scene is heard reacting with alarm: “Was that a compressor stall? What’s going on?”
The harrowing footage, captured by aviation YouTube channel LA Flights, shows the wide-body jet continuing to climb despite the fiery malfunction. The blaze, which ignited as the aircraft ascended over the Los Angeles area, appeared to subside as the pilots swiftly redirected the flight back to the airport.
Moments later, the aircraft is seen descending with its landing gear deployed before touching down safely on the runway. Emergency response vehicles quickly surrounded the plane, escorting it back to its gate for inspection.
“Delta flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft’s left engine,” a spokesperson for the airline confirmed to the BBC. No injuries were reported, and all passengers disembarked without incident.
The affected aircraft was a Boeing 767-400, a wide-body jet typically used for transcontinental and international routes.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny over aircraft safety and follows a separate Delta Airlines emergency earlier in the week. On Monday, Delta flight 1334, a Boeing 757 traveling from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale, was forced to divert after a passenger’s lithium battery caught fire mid-flight, filling the cabin with smoke.
According to the airline, flight attendants “worked quickly” to extinguish the battery fire using onboard equipment. No serious injuries were reported in that incident, but passengers described scenes of panic as smoke clouded the cabin and crews scrambled to control the situation.
Both emergencies underscore ongoing concerns surrounding aircraft equipment reliability and onboard battery safety as the industry faces increasing pressure over operational safety.
