WATCH: Delta flight makes emergency landing at LAX after engine catches fire
(KTLA) – A Delta flight made an emergency landing at the Los Angeles International Airport after one of its engines caught fire on Friday afternoon, officials say.
It happened around 2:10 p.m. while the plane — Delta Air Lines Flight 446 — was climbing during take-off, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft was en route to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at the time.
Aviation news and blog site Aviation A2Z reported that the pilots detected indications of an engine fire just after departing from LAX. Footage from L.A. Flights captured the moment flames became visible on the Boeing 767-400’s left engine while the aircraft was still on an incline.
The crew reportedly declared an emergency and requested an immediate return to LAX, supplemented by help from Air Traffic Control alerting airport emergency services.
“Flightradar24 data shows that DL446 initially climbed out over the Pacific before circling back inland over Downey and Paramount areas, allowing time for the crew to complete checklists and prepare for a safe landing,” reported Aviation A2Z. “The aircraft maintained a controlled altitude and speed during the maneuver.”
Flight 446 returned safely to LAX, and no injuries were reported. The FAA said it will investigate the incident.