A United Airlines passenger flying from Denver to Burbank experienced a dramatic rerouting to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Tuesday night due to powerful winds. As the plane descended, Mark Viniello described a chilling sight through his window: the raging wildfires below, evoking the fiery landscape of “Mordor” from the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.

Viniello recounted the collective gasp of disbelief from fellow passengers as they witnessed the inferno unfolding beneath them. The turbulent descent, caused by the very winds that prompted the diversion, added another layer of anxiety to the already unsettling experience. Upon finally landing, the passengers erupted in applause, relieved to be on solid ground.

Currently, five major wildfires are actively burning across California, fueled by wind gusts reaching up to 100 mph. While the Tyler fire is reported as 50% contained, the remaining blazes continue to spread rapidly. The devastating impact of these fires has already resulted in two fatalities, numerous injuries among both firefighters and civilians, and the destruction of over 1,000 structures.

With approximately 30,000 residents evacuated and over 13,000 structures threatened, Governor Gavin Newsom has activated the National Guard. This decision has drawn criticism from President-elect Trump, who previously clashed with Newsom over water management policies related to the state's Central Valley.