American Airlines Plane Catches Fire After Emergency Landing in Denver

On Thursday night, a plane operated by American Airlines experienced an engine fire shortly after making an emergency landing at Denver International Airport. The crew quickly evacuated passengers, who exited onto the plane's left wing amid a cloud of smoke.

Stunning visuals shared on social media and various news outlets captured passengers standing on the wing, engulfed by thick smoke while awaiting rescue. In some images, flames are visible emanating from the aircraft before firefighters successfully extinguished the blaze.

The incident involved American Airlines Flight 1006, a Boeing 737-800, carrying 172 passengers and six crew members. The flight had departed from Colorado Springs Airport headed for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. However, around 6:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. GMT), the crew detected "engine vibrations," prompting the emergency landing in Denver.

According to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), "after landing and while taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire, leading to the evacuation via slides." The aircraft was at gate C38 when the fire was noticed, and emergency teams swiftly responded, managing to put out the fire with no fatalities reported.

Nevertheless, 12 passengers were taken to a hospital for evaluation, though their injuries were described as minor. An airport spokesperson confirmed to the media that the fire began while the plane was at the gate, and evacuation slides were deployed to ensure a quick exit for passengers. "The evacuation was conducted successfully without major issues," the source told the American press.

Ongoing Investigation

The FAA announced an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Meanwhile, American Airlines released a statement confirming the aircraft experienced "an engine issue" after landing in Denver but did not provide specific details about the malfunction.

This incident adds to a series of aviation mishaps that have raised concerns in the United States regarding the safety of commercial flights. Some experts have pointed out that budget cuts to aviation agencies could be compromising aircraft maintenance and oversight protocols.

A String of Recent Air Incidents in the U.S.

This occurrence is part of a troubling pattern of air incidents in the U.S. in recent weeks, affecting both military and civilian sectors.

• On January 29, a commercial aircraft and an army helicopter collided near Washington, resulting in 67 fatalities.
• On January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, killing six onboard and another person on the ground.
• On February 7, a small passenger plane crashed in Alaska, claiming ten lives.
• On February 10, a private plane collided with a parked aircraft at Scottsdale Airport, Arizona, leaving one dead and several injured.
• On February 12, a U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler crashed into San Diego Bay, California, but both crew members ejected safely and were rescued.
• On February 15, two people died when a Rockwell Commander crashed at Covington Municipal Airport, about 55 kilometers east of Atlanta, Georgia.
• On February 19, at least two people died following a mid-air collision between two single-engine planes at Marana Regional Airport, Arizona.
• On February 25, a Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided a serious incident at Chicago Midway International Airport. The plane, departing from Omaha, Nebraska, had to abort its landing suddenly when a Flexjet private jet dangerously entered its path.
• On March 9, a small plane crashed in a residential area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, resulting in five injuries.
• On March 10, a medical transport helicopter crashed in Madison County, Mississippi, killing the pilot and two hospital workers. The helicopter, part of the University of Mississippi Medical Center's AirCare service, was not carrying patients at the time of the crash.
• Additionally, on February 17, a Delta Airlines plane overturned while landing at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, injuring at least 15 people, three seriously.