A DHL cargo jet landed at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday night and its rear wheels erupted into flames as it rolled down the runway. The plane slowed to a stop, and emergency vehicles moved in with water moments later.
The footage, obtained by Airline Videos, shows the jet touching down before white smoke streamed from the rear tires. Three loud pops and flashes of light followed after the front tires hit the ground, then flames spread around the back of the aircraft as it kept moving. By the time it stopped, fire and sparks were still wrapping around the rear fuselage.
The scene briefly disrupted runway traffic. Air traffic controllers told other aircraft to stay clear of the runway while responders worked on the aircraft, a reminder of how quickly an ordinary landing can turn into an emergency at a major airport. No injury report or damage assessment was provided in the available information.
What caused the fire remains unresolved. In the video, a pilot said, “I don’t know if we blew a tire but it feels like the brakes locked up,” leaving open whether the trouble started with a tire failure or a braking problem. The available information does not confirm either explanation, and there was no official explanation from Los Angeles International Airport, the Los Angeles Fire Department or DHL in the material reviewed.
What is clear is that the plane made it to the runway, then had to be doused where it stopped. The unanswered question is the one that matters most now: whether the fire came from a tire that failed on landing or from brakes that overheated and locked, because the answer will decide how this event is understood and what happens the next time a cargo jet comes in hot over Los Angeles.
