Overview

• Flight DL446, operated by a 24.6-year-old Boeing 767-400, suffered a left GE CF6 engine fire shortly after departing Los Angeles on July 18, 2025.
• Pilots declared an emergency and, with air traffic control guidance, circled over southern Los Angeles before landing safely at LAX with no injuries.
• Plane-spotter videos captured flames shooting from the engine mid-flight, driving intense public and social media interest.
• Delta Air Lines is fully cooperating with the FAA probe and has launched a review of maintenance protocols for its aging wide-body fleet.
• This marks the fourth engine or smoke incident on Delta jets in 2025, fueling scrutiny of the airline’s fleet reliability.