FAA - Germany

Los Angeles, United States: A DHL Boeing 737-800 freighter suffered a brake-system malfunction during landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on August 26, 2026, causing four tires to blow and a fire to erupt around its main landing gear. The two crew members aboard the aircraft were not injured. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800BDSF registered as N326FL, was operated by Kalitta Charters II on behalf of DHL as Flight K5-1814 from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Los Angeles. The freighter landed on Runway 25L at approximately 11:10 p.m. local time. Video footage shows the aircraft touching down before white smoke began emerging from the main landing-gear area. Within seconds, several loud pops and flashes were visible, followed by flames and sparks beneath the aircraft as it continued its landing roll. The aircraft subsequently slowed and stopped on the runway while fire crews moved toward it. Footage showed flames concentrated around the landing-gear and tire area as emergency responders began extinguishing the fire. During the incident, the flight crew communicated with air traffic control about the braking problem. In the recorded radio exchange, one of the pilots said, “I don’t know if we blew a tire, but it feels like the brakes locked up.” The crew also advised the tower that the anti-skid system was inoperative and that the brakes may have locked up, with the crew concerned that some of the tires could have been damaged. The Federal Aviation Administration said preliminary information indicated that the aircraft’s brakes malfunctioned during landing and that four tires were blown. The agency has launched an investigation into the incident, meaning the precise mechanical cause has not yet been established. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded after receiving a report of an aircraft fire at approximately 11:06 p.m. The department deployed 13 units to the scene. Firefighters initially received information indicating an engine fire, but after reaching the aircraft, they determined that the problem involved the landing gear and brakes. The LAFD said the left main landing gear caught fire and that the flames spread to the tires on that side. Firefighters used water to extinguish the fire, and the aircraft's two occupants were able to leave the aircraft without assistance. No injuries were reported. The final LAFD unit left the scene at approximately 12:44 a.m. “The cause of the mechanical failure remains under investigation by the appropriate federal and company authorities,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said. DHL described the event as an “apparent brake system issue” that resulted in a brake overheat. The company confirmed that everyone aboard was safe and said the aircraft operator was working to move the disabled freighter so that it could undergo further inspection and assessment. “There were no injuries, and all crew members are safe,” DHL said. The incident temporarily closed Runway 25L as emergency personnel and maintenance crews dealt with the disabled aircraft. Air traffic control also kept other aircraft clear of the runway while the emergency response was underway. The aircraft remained on the ground at LAX into the following morning while arrangements were made to move it from the runway and assess the damage. N326FL is a Boeing 737-800 that was manufactured in 2001 and later converted from passenger service to the BDSF freighter configuration. The conversion was completed in December 2022. The aircraft was operating in DHL livery under Kalitta Charters II, a U.S. cargo carrier. The available evidence establishes the sequence of events as a normal landing followed by a suspected brake lockup or malfunction, tire failures, a fire involving the main landing gear, the aircraft coming to a stop on Runway 25L, and the subsequent response by LAX emergency crews. However, investigators have not yet identified the specific component or technical failure responsible for the brake malfunction.

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