A Delta Air Lines jet returned to Los Angeles shortly after take-off when flames erupted from one of its engines.
Video footage showed fire coming from the left engine of the Boeing 767 as the plane lifted off. The flight, bound for Atlanta, Georgia, circled and landed safely back at Los Angeles International Airport.
Fire crews met the aircraft on arrival and quickly extinguished the blaze.
The plane, which entered service in November 2000, is over 24 years old.
Passenger Constance Bingham Smith said the flight had already faced a delay of more than an hour due to maintenance issues. She called the incident the most frightening flight experience she had ever had.
Another passenger said many people stayed calm despite feeling anxious. “Some saw the flames, but I couldn’t,” she said. “It was a tense 10 minutes, but everyone remained composed. I’m very grateful to be back on the ground.”
One man shared that his daughter and her husband were on board but didn’t realise anything was wrong until the plane had landed. He praised the crew for staying calm and handling the situation professionally.
Engine fires can occur due to fuel leaks, debris, bird strikes, or airflow problems.
A Delta spokesperson said: “Delta flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft’s left engine.”
