Delta Engine Fire Erupts Minutes After LAX Departure
A Delta Air Lines Boeing 767 engine erupted in flames just seconds after lifting off from Los Angeles International Airport, startling passengers and ground crews alike.
I guess I can simplify this for you. By Jordan Collins
Video posted by L.A. FLIGHTS shows a dramatic plume of fire bursting from the left engine of Delta Flight 446 as it climbed out of LAX last Friday afternoon. The footage captures bright orange flames licking the black engine cowling and trailing aglow smoke against the clear California sky. Air traffic controllers and spectators on the tarmac reacted with alarm, making this an incident you may have seen circulating across social media feeds.
Flight 446 had departed runway 25R bound for Atlanta with 226 passengers and nine crew members aboard. Just thirty seconds after takeoff, flight crew declared an emergency when the No. 2 engine exhibited a sudden temperature spike followed by visible flame. According to a statement from Delta Air Lines, pilots immediately reduced thrust, shut down the affected engine, and requested an expedited return to LAX. The aircraft made a low-speed, single-engine approach back to its departure airport, touching down safely on runway 24L less than ten minutes after liftoff.
By the time Flight 446 reached its gate, onboard and ground firefighting units confirmed that flames had fully extinguished. Inspection records filed with the Federal Aviation Administration show no injuries or smoke inhalation complaints among passengers or crew. Nonetheless, fire crews remained on scene to ensure that residual heat sources were cooled and to perform safety checks before passengers disembarked.
Delta’s spokesperson told TMZ that the company has launched an internal investigation alongside the FAA and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney to determine the root cause of the malfunction. Early assessments will focus on turbine blade integrity and possible foreign object ingestion, such as a bird strike during climb. Similar incidents in the past have led to component overheat or seal failure, though official findings are weeks away.
Sources familiar with the aviation review process say such engine events are exceedingly rare given the rigorous maintenance schedule Boeing 767s undergo. Airlines perform daily operational tests and rotating borescope inspections to spot fan track cracks or compressor anomalies. Delta’s Maintenance Reliability Program tracks engine hours and cycles to anticipate overhauls well before the component reaches critical wear thresholds.
FAA records indicate that transport-category jets like the 767 are designed to sustain flight on one engine under normal operating procedures. Pilots train regularly in full-motion simulators on engine-out recovery, go-around, and approach scenarios. That training clearly paid off last week when Flight 446 crew executed a textbook diversion to ensure passenger safety without injuries or structural damage.
Los Angeles International Airport operations resumed without major delays following the incident, though several inbound flights experienced brief ground holds as emergency crews cleared the runway and taxiways. Airline app alerts and airport monitors updated travelers on arrival times within minutes, demonstrating the coordinated effort between airline operations control and airport authority staff.
Stay tuned for more details as federal investigators and Delta maintenance teams honor transparency standards in releasing the official incident report. You probably should already know this isn’t a sign of routine risk escalation but rather a testament to aviation safety protocols at their very best. Glad I could clear that up for you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and L.A. FLIGHTS, Delta Air Lines
Attribution: Boston Globe (Creative Commons)
