A DHL cargo plane erupted in flames while landing at Los Angeles International Airport late Wednesday night, with video showing smoke, flashes and fire around the rear wheels as the aircraft rolled down the runway.
The incident happened shortly after 11 p.m. on August 26, 2026, as the cargo aircraft arrived at LAX from Phoenix. Emergency crews rushed to the plane, one runway was temporarily closed, and no injuries were immediately reported.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot saying it felt as though the brakes had locked up and questioning whether a tire had blown. However, authorities had not confirmed the cause of the fire as of Thursday.
Video shows smoke, three loud pops and flames after touchdown
Footage from the landing shows white smoke beginning to emerge from the rear wheel area shortly after the aircraft touched down. Moments after the front wheels reached the runway, three loud pops and flashes were recorded around the tires.
Flames and sparks then became visible beneath the rear section of the aircraft as it continued down the runway before slowing to a stop. Emergency vehicles arrived and firefighters sprayed water around the affected landing gear.
The pilot’s radio transmission offers an important clue about what the crew experienced, but it does not establish whether a brake problem, tire failure or another mechanical issue started the sequence.
Four rear tires showed severe damage
Aerial footage captured after firefighters extinguished the flames showed four rear tires with severe damage, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
Aircraft brakes absorb enormous amounts of energy during landing, generating substantial heat as a heavy plane slows. A damaged tire, overheated brake or wheel problem can therefore require an immediate emergency response, although investigators have not linked any specific failure to the DHL incident.
A recent American Airlines tire emergency at Chicago O’Hare offers a useful comparison. Two tires were damaged during that landing, prompting an emergency response, but the aircraft landed safely and no injuries were reported.
LAX runway temporarily closed during emergency response
The fiery landing also affected airport operations. Air traffic controllers were heard directing other aircraft away from the runway while emergency crews worked around the DHL plane, and ABC7 reported that one runway was temporarily closed.
Such restrictions give firefighters safe access while allowing airport teams to inspect the pavement for tire fragments or other debris before aircraft movements resume.
Current arrivals, departures and airport information are available through the official Los Angeles International Airport website.
Why wheel and brake fires require an immediate response
The dramatic video does not mean fire had spread throughout the aircraft. The visible flames were concentrated around the wheel and landing-gear area in the footage available from the scene.
Wheel assemblies can retain extreme heat after landing, while damaged tires and hot brakes may create additional hazards for emergency personnel. Fire crews therefore approach these incidents cautiously even after the aircraft has stopped and visible flames begin to disappear.
The importance of waiting for technical evidence is also clear from the Cessna 441 crash near Cape Newenham in Alaska, where investigators were tasked with establishing the sequence of events from physical and operational evidence. The two incidents are unrelated, but both underline why early observations should not be presented as a confirmed cause.
Cause of the DHL plane fire remains unconfirmed
The confirmed picture is that the DHL cargo aircraft was arriving from Phoenix when flames appeared around its rear landing gear during the LAX landing. Multiple pops were heard, several tires suffered serious damage, firefighters responded quickly, and no injuries were immediately reported.
What triggered the incident remains unresolved. Officials had not publicly determined whether a tire failed first, a braking problem developed or another mechanical issue contributed to the fire. There was also no immediate official assessment of the aircraft’s total damage.
WATCH: DHL Boeing 737-800(BDSF), operated by Kalitta Charters II, experiences a brake lockup and subsequent fire upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) August 27, 2026
The aircraft was seen on the southern-most runways, located just west of the Sepulveda Tunnel, with flames coming… pic.twitter.com/fGnlKJ8kYR
Technical findings will determine what caused the fire
The pilot’s report about the brakes and the visible tire damage will be important pieces of evidence, but neither should be confused with a confirmed technical explanation.
Until DHL, airport officials or aviation investigators release additional findings, the precise cause should remain described as unknown. For now, the key outcome is that the aircraft stopped safely, emergency crews contained the fire and no injuries were immediately reported.
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