A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 aircraft made a swift emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) after one of its engines caught fire mid-air shortly after departure on Friday.
Flight DL446, which had taken off from LAX bound for Atlanta, experienced a sudden fire in its left engine minutes after takeoff. Dramatic footage captured from the ground showed flames shooting from the aircraft, sparking panic among onlookers. However, thanks to a composed flight crew, the aircraft safely returned to the airport without any injuries reported among passengers or crew.
The plane circled over the Southern California coastline to burn fuel before making a controlled landing. Emergency crews were on standby and responded immediately as the aircraft touched down. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, and the aircraft was towed for inspection.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed that the incident involved a Boeing 767-400 equipped with GE CF6 engines and that an onboard alert prompted the pilots to act immediately. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an inquiry to investigate the cause of the engine malfunction.
This marks Delta&rsquo;s second engine related incident in recent months, reigniting conversations around aircraft engine maintenance and passenger safety.
Passengers were rebooked on alternate flights, and Delta issued an apology for the inconvenience, stating, "The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority."

Delta Jet Lands Safely After Engine Catches Fire

Boeing 767 returns to LAX after mid-air engine fire shortly after takeoff

Delta Jet Lands Safely After Engine Catches Fire

Boeing 767 returns to LAX after mid-air engine fire shortly after takeoff

July 20, 2025 | 21:17 IST