A Delta Air Lines flight bound for Atlanta was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday after its left engine reportedly caught fire shortly after takeoff.

Flight DL446, operated by a 24-year-old Boeing 767-400 (registration N836MH), had just departed Los Angeles International Airport when the crew detected indications of an engine fire. Flames were seen coming from the aircraft’s left engine mid-air, as captured in ground video footage.

The pilots quickly declared an emergency and coordinated with Air Traffic Control (ATC) for an immediate return. The aircraft initially climbed out over the Pacific Ocean before circling back inland over Downey and Paramount to complete safety checklists and prepare for landing. The aircraft maintained a stable altitude and speed throughout the manoeuvre.

Upon landing, emergency crews were on standby and confirmed that the fire was extinguished. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

“Delta flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft’s left engine,” a Delta spokesperson told the BBC. Passengers said the captain informed them that fire crews were “verifying that the engine fire is out.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric CF6 engines.

This marks the second reported engine fire incident involving Delta Air Lines this year. In January, Flight DL105, an Airbus A330neo, was forced to return to Atlanta shortly after takeoff due to a similar issue on its way to Brazil’s So Paulo.

The aircraft was en route to So Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport on January 1 when its left engine began malfunctioning shortly after takeoff, sending visible flames that alarmed the passengers.

– Ends