A DHL cargo plane’s tires caught fire during an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport late Wednesday night, forcing a temporary runway closure before emergency crews extinguished the flames, with no injuries immediately reported.
Video captured the Boeing 777 arriving at LAX from Phoenix around 11 p.m. Wednesday with flames shooting from underneath the aircraft as it touched down. Air traffic control audio recorded the pilot reporting that the plane’s brakes had locked up, according to the source.
Firefighters respond at LAX
Emergency crews rushed to the aircraft after the landing, and one runway was temporarily shut down while firefighters worked to put out the fire. A helicopter from KABC-TV later flew over the scene and showed four rear tires with severe damage.
Additional details about what caused the fire or what led up to the emergency landing remained unclear in the source reporting. No injuries were immediately reported.
What happens after an in-airport runway incident
When an aircraft experiences a mechanical issue on landing, airport fire and rescue units, stationed on-site for exactly this reason, respond within minutes, followed by crews from the surrounding municipality. The runway is closed until fire-suppression foam residue is cleaned and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examine the aircraft and the runway surface. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board typically review air traffic control recordings, cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and maintenance logs before issuing findings, a process that often takes months.
DHL and its cargo operations
DHL is a global logistics company that operates one of the largest air cargo fleets in the world, handling express shipments and freight across continents. Cargo carriers like DHL typically maintain their own maintenance and safety protocols in line with international standards, and incidents involving aircraft are reported to the relevant aviation authorities.
Reported by 6abc.
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