Why a Delta Flight Made an Emergency Return to LAX

A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing at LAX on Friday, July 18, after the crew reported an engine fire shortly after takeoff.

Flight 446, a Boeing 767-400 registered N836MH and powered by GE CF6 engines, had just departed Los Angeles International Airport when the pilots observed signs of a fire in the left engine. They promptly notified air traffic control and began circling back toward the runway, following standard emergency procedures, according to ABC News.

LA Flights captured the incident on video, showing flames coming from the engine as the aircraft maneuvered over Downey and Paramount. Despite the emergency, pilots kept the flight stable while completing in-air safety checklists before the return.

❗️Boeing 787 Makes Emergency Landing in LA 🇺🇸 – Engine ON FIRE 🔥

Video claims to show a Delta Airlines flight bound for Atlanta on Friday making an emergency landing at LAX. The engine reportedly caught fire shortly after take-off.

📹 @LAFlightsLIVE https://t.co/t1HBVLDi0P pic.twitter.com/vYNgkpZJcq

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 19, 2025

Emergency response teams from Los Angeles World Airports were waiting on the tarmac and verified that the fire was extinguished after landing. Passengers onboard reported hearing the captain announce that fire crews were inspecting the aircraft. No injuries were reported.

The aircraft had briefly climbed out over the Pacific Ocean before looping back inland, a maneuver designed to allow the crew time to assess the situation while burning off fuel to reduce landing weight.

This marks the second reported Delta engine fire in 2025. In January, Flight 105 to São Paulo returned to Atlanta after experiencing a similar malfunction on its Airbus A330-900neo. That flight also landed safely, although the brakes overheated due to a heavy landing.

Both incidents underscore the importance of fast, coordinated crew responses in mid-air emergencies. While the FAA has launched an investigation, Delta’s prompt response helped avoid injuries and ensure a safe landing once again.

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