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Boeing Delta 767 flight catches fire after takeoff, returns to Los Angeles
Flight DL446, operated by a Boeing 767-400, had departed Los Angeles airport when the crew observed indications of an engine fire. The aircraft, powered by two GE CF6 engines, was climbing out over the Pacific Ocean when the issue arose. Pilots immediately declared an emergency and requested a return to Los Angeles. Air Traffic Control guided the jet safely back, alerting emergency services at the airport.
Ground footage captured by aviation YouTube channel LA Flights, run by Josh and Peter, showed flames erupting from the left engine as the aircraft turned back over southern Los Angeles. In the video, the jet is seen flying steadily while a fireball blazes beneath one wing. As the aircraft descended, the fire appeared to subside. The landing gear deployed as expected, and the plane touched down safely with the engine no longer visibly burning.
❗️Boeing 787 Makes Emergency Landing in LA ???????? - Engine ON FIRE ???? Video claims to show a Delta Airlines flight bound for Atlanta on Friday making an emergency landing at LAX. The engine reportedly caught fire shortly after take-off. ???? @LAFlightsLIVE https://t.co/t1HBVLDi0P
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 19, 2025
A spokesperson for Delta Airlines told the BBC, 'Delta Flight 446 returned to Los Angeles shortly after departure following an indication of an issue with the aircraft's left engine.'
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident.
Delta engine fire follows deadly Air India crash in June
The Delta engine fire incident comes just a month after a separate and far more tragic incident involving a Boeing aircraft. On June 12, an Air India flight 171 operating a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college complex in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad shortly after take-off. The flight was en route from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, London. The crash claimed the lives of more than 260 people.
A preliminary report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 12, revealed that the fuel switches to the aircraft's engines had been turned off within seconds of take-off. The action caused immediate confusion in the cockpit, according to the report, which remains under investigation.
A subsequent report by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, said the first officer had questioned the more experienced captain about switching the fuel controls to the "cutoff" position just after the plane lifted off the runway. The captain is believed to have turned off the switches, though the AAIB has not clarified whether the action was deliberate or accidental.
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NDTV
19 hours ago
- NDTV
No Fault With Boeing Fuel Control Unit: US Aviation Body On Air India Crash
Oshkosh, Wisconsin: The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday the fatal crash last month of an Air India Boeing 787 jet does not appear to have been caused by a mechanical issue or inadvertent movement of the fuel control unit or switches. "We can say with a high level of confidence is it doesn't appear to be a mechanical issue with the Boeing fuel control unit," Bryan Bedford, the FAA's administrator, told reporters on the sidelines of an air show in Wisconsin. He said FAA employees had taken the units out, tested them and had inspectors get on aircraft and review them. "We feel very comfortable that this isn't an issue with inadvertent manipulation of fuel control," he said. The probe into the Air India crash, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, is focused on the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787 jetliner. Boeing and Air India did not immediately comment. The switches control fuel flow to aircraft engines, allowing pilots to start or shut them down on the ground, or manually intervene during in-flight engine failures. Air India said on Tuesday it has completed precautionary inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanism on all 787 and 737 aircraft, with no issues detected. A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau earlier this month found the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from "run" to "cutoff" shortly after takeoff, causing the engines to lose power. Reuters reported last week, citing a source, that the cockpit recording on the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick suggested the captain cut fuel to the engines. Earlier this month, the FAA and Boeing privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes were safe.


Hans India
19 hours ago
- Hans India
Air India Crash Not Caused by Mechanical Problem, Says FAA
The top officer of America's flight safety group (FAA) said the big Air India plane crash last month was not caused by a machine problem. The crash happened just after takeoff. It killed 241 people on the plane and 19 people on the ground. The FAA checked the fuel control system on the Boeing 787 plane. This system controls fuel to the engines. They said it worked well and that there was no mistake with the fuel switches. These fuel switches are used by pilots to start or stop engines. They also use them in case of engine trouble. A report from India said that both fuel switches moved to 'cutoff' by accident right after takeoff. This made the engines stop working. Another report said that the pilot may have turned off the fuel by mistake. Air India checked all its other planes and said they are safe. Boeing and Air India have not made public comments yet.


New Indian Express
21 hours ago
- New Indian Express
FAA rules out mechanical failure in June 12 Air India 787 crash
CHENNAI: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reportedly concluded that there was no mechanical fault in the fuel control system of the Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed on June 12, killing 260 people. The agency's statement confirms that the plane's fuel control units and switch mechanisms were functioning normally and showed no signs of failure or inadvertent movement. Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 241 people onboard and 19 individuals on the ground. Only one survivor, 27-year-old Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, was found in critical condition and remains under medical observation. The investigation is being led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with support from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Preliminary findings reveal that both of the aircraft's fuel control switches moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" within seconds of takeoff, causing both engines to lose power. The switches were returned to "RUN" within 10 to 14 seconds, but the engines failed to regain sufficient thrust. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut off, while the other denied having done so. These recordings have raised questions about whether the switches were moved intentionally or by accident. The FAA's inspection confirmed that the switch locking mechanisms were intact and that no mechanical fault led to the fuel cutoff. Reports quoted FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stating that the aircraft's systems performed as designed and there is no current plan to issue design changes or additional safety bulletins. Boeing has also confirmed that no systemic issues have been found in the 787's fuel systems based on inspections of its fleet and data supplied by operators, including Air India. While mechanical failure has been ruled out, the possibility of human involvement remains under active investigation. Former US safety officials and aviation experts have described the switch movements as highly unusual and not consistent with normal flight procedures. The Indian AAIB has expanded its probe to consider whether the crash could have involved intentional action. On Tuesday, Air India also confirmed that it has completed all Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-mandated inspections of the Fuel Control Switch (FCS) locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, including those operated by Air India Express. 'No issues were found with the said locking mechanism,' the airline said, adding that voluntary checks had already begun on July 12, two days before the DGCA directive was issued on July 14. India's DGCA had separately issued warnings to Air India over systemic safety lapses, including failures in fatigue management, inadequate crew training, and a lack of operational oversight. The regulator directed Air India to complete fuel switch mechanism checks across its fleet by July 21, which the airline confirmed had been done without any anomalies. Although speculation about pilot actions continues, the AAIB has not confirmed any conclusions regarding crew intent or error. A full investigation report, expected sometime later, will provide detailed analysis including the complete cockpit transcript and system data. Authorities and aviation experts have urged the public and media to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation continues. The cause of the dual engine flameout remains officially undetermined, pending the outcome of further analysis of flight data, cockpit recordings, and crew background.