A Delta Air Lines flight heading to Atlanta had to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Friday after one of its engines caught fire shortly after takeoff. Video footage showed flames coming from the aircraft’s left engine while it was in the air.

What Happened During the Flight

Flight DL446, a Boeing 767-400, had just left LAX when pilots noticed an engine problem. Acting quickly, they declared an emergency and safely turned the plane back to the airport. Thankfully, no passengers or crew members were hurt.

Videos shared on social media showed the plane gaining height as flames erupted from its left engine. Shortly after, the plane landed safely at LAX.

Boeing 767 of Delta Inbound for LAX.Engine caught fire around 12 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/58MOWw9hnm

— Vikrant (@Vikspeaks1) July 19, 2025

Delta Airlines Issues Statement

A spokesperson for Delta Airlines spoke to the BBC about the incident. The spokesperson said, “Delta flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft’s left engine.” The airline confirmed that the crew acted carefully after receiving alerts about the possible engine issue.

Details of the Emergency Landing

According to Aviation A2Z, an aviation blog, the engine fire started soon after takeoff. The pilots immediately contacted Air Traffic Control (ATC), declared an emergency, and requested permission to return. ATC guided the aircraft back to the airport while emergency teams prepared on the ground.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that the aircraft initially flew over the Pacific Ocean before turning back over the Downey and Paramount areas. This allowed the pilots to perform safety checks before landing. Throughout the situation, the plane maintained steady altitude and speed.

Second Engine Fire Incident This Year

This is the second time in 2025 that a Delta aircraft has faced an engine fire. In April, Delta Flight 1213 had an engine fire while preparing to depart from Orlando International Airport for Atlanta. That fire was controlled while the plane was still on the ground, and no injuries were reported.

In this latest incident, quick action by Delta’s pilots and airport staff ensured that everyone on board remained safe, despite the frightening engine fire. The airline confirmed that the matter is being investigated further.