A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 carrying 226 passengers and nine crew was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday after its left engine caught fire just minutes after takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The flight, DAL446, was en route to Atlanta when flames were seen shooting from the aircraft’s engine around 2 p.m., according to footage posted on social media.
“The Boeing 767 engine caught fire shortly after takeoff… The flight landed safely after returning to the LAX runway,” wrote Breaking Aviation News & Videos on X.
Video Goes Viral
Video captured from the ground shows visible flames coming from one of the engines during initial ascent. The plane quickly diverted back to LAX and landed safely without injury, according to Flightradar24.
The aircraft involved was a 24-year-old Boeing 767-432 (ER)—raising questions about aging equipment and oversight.
A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta made an emergency landing Friday at LAX after a reported engine fire, officials said.
The Boeing 767 engine caught fire shortly after takeoff around 2 p.m. Video from the ground captured the flames coming out from one of the engines.… pic.twitter.com/fm8ilJtzrk
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 19, 2025
Delta Confirms Engine Incident
Delta Airlines confirmed the incident to ABC 7, stating that a mid-air issue occurred involving the left engine. The cause has not been determined, and officials have not ruled out a bird strike or mechanical failure.
“The crew followed procedures and returned safely to LAX,” the airline said in a statement.
Safety Concerns Mount
The scare comes just weeks after a deadly Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash shook public confidence in Boeing aircraft, with graphic footage spreading across social media.
While no one was hurt in the Delta incident, it has reignited concerns about Boeing’s aircraft safety and the aging fleet still in operation across major U.S. carriers.
