Massive Sandy Fire Filmed From Plane Window As Smoke Engulfs Hills Near Los Angeles

Video filmed by X user Garry Golden captured a massive plume of smoke rising from the Sandy Fire as his Delta flight descended toward Hollywood Burbank Airport on May 18, 2026.

Recorded from an airplane window, the footage shows the aircraft’s white wing and blue tail in the foreground beneath a clear blue sky while a huge column of thick grayish-brown smoke rises from the hills and canyons below.

Visible orange flames burn across the terrain near Simi Valley as smoke drifts and expands across the landscape. The video also shows suburban neighborhoods, roads, and dry hills surrounding the fire zone, highlighting the wildfire’s proximity to populated areas.

The caption posted with the footage read: “Flying into BUR… Sandy Fire… looks devastating but news is saying under control.”

The Sandy Fire ignited that day near Sandy Avenue in Simi Valley in Ventura County. Driven by strong winds, the wildfire rapidly expanded to between 1,300 and 2,400 acres.

Evacuation orders were issued for thousands of residents in parts of Simi Valley, Bell Canyon, and nearby communities. Authorities reported that at least one or more structures were damaged during the blaze.

Firefighters, helicopters, and air tankers worked aggressively against the wildfire and achieved partial containment as conditions improved. No major injuries were widely reported.

The footage also captured the same wildfire responsible for the hazy, orange-colored smoke conditions seen around Los Angeles the following morning.