DENVER- Passengers stood on the wing of an American Airlines (AA) Boeing 737 plane after an engine caught fire at Denver International Airport (DEN) Thursday evening.
The incident forced an emergency evacuation and sent thick black smoke into the air.
American Airlines Plane Fire
American Airlines Flight AA1006 from Colorado Springs (COS) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) with 172 passengers and six crew members, diverted to Denver around 5:15 p.m. local time after the crew reported “engine vibrations,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The fire erupted after landing while the aircraft taxied to gate C38. Denver Fire Department reported twelve passengers suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Images from the scene captured dozens of passengers exiting the aircraft onto the wing as smoke surrounded them.
American Airlines confirmed the plane experienced an “engine-related issue” after landing and taxiing. “We thank our crew members, DEN team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority,” the airline stated.
Airport officials confirmed the fire was extinguished and all passengers were evacuated. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.
Eyewitness Accounts
Multiple social media videos captured flames erupting from the American Airlines plane and passengers evacuating onto the wing amid heavy smoke during Thursday’s incident at Denver International Airport.
Kristal Leonard, waiting for a connecting flight to Colorado Springs, witnessed the emergency unfold. “I was terrified for those passengers,” Leonard told CNN after seeing flames and smoke engulfing the aircraft. “I can’t even imagine how scared they must’ve been.”
Passenger Gabrielle Hibbitts described the chaotic moments to CBS News Colorado: “As soon as the plane landed, we smelled this weird burning plastic smell and then everybody started screaming and saying there was a fire.” After reaching safety with her sister, she reported, “We saw the plane… and there was smoke everywhere.”
Ingrid Hibbitts, Gabrielle’s mother, shared her relief with CBS News Colorado: “It was surreal. I was like, ‘Is this gonna blow up… What’s happening here? Are they gonna be able to put out the fire?’ I’m really grateful that this happened on the ground because if this happened in the air, I don’t think I’d be standing here telling you the story.”
A family member of one passenger informed CBS News Colorado that all luggage was removed from the plane. American Airlines confirmed it dispatched a replacement aircraft and crew to help passengers continue to Dallas-Fort Worth, with a rescheduled departure at 1 a.m. local time Friday.
Quick Emergency Response
Ground crews quickly contained the fire on American Airlines Flight 1006 at Denver International Airport, as captured in passenger video footage. The bright orange flames and black smoke transitioned to a misty white haze as airport firefighters suppressed the blaze.
American Airlines confirmed they dispatched a replacement aircraft and crew to Denver to help stranded passengers continue their journey to Dallas.
Robert Sumwalt, former National Transportation Safety Board chairman, emphasized the incident demonstrates “the importance of having well-trained pilots, well-trained flight attendants, well-trained airport rescue and firefighting personnel and air traffic controllers, all working together to ensure a safe outcome when something like this happens.”
Sumwalt predicted the Federal Aviation Administration investigation (FAA) will likely focus on determining the fire’s origin and timing.
“We’ve got to really understand exactly when this smoke started and… I’m not sure exactly why all of a sudden, when they got to the gate, the smoke started filling the passenger cabin. I think that will be a part of the investigation,” he stated.
The Denver incident follows a series of recent aviation emergencies, including a Delta Air Lines flight that crashed, overturned and caught fire at Toronto Pearson International Airport three weeks ago.
Earlier this year, fatal crashes occurred in Alaska, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, where an American Airlines plane collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in January, resulting in 67 fatalities. Additionally, aviation disasters in South Korea and Kazakhstan claimed over 200 lives in December.
Similar Incident
In July 2024, Passengers evacuated an American Airlines plane at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) when a fire erupted inside the cabin. Fire officials confirmed the blaze was extinguished with three people suffering minor injuries during the incident.
American Airlines Flight 2045, scheduled to depart for Miami at 1:05pm, experienced the emergency while passengers were boarding. Staff reported seeing smoke inside the cabin, prompting immediate response from airport authorities. One person sustained injuries while using an evacuation slide, according to NBC Bay Area.
American Airlines issued a statement confirming an overheating laptop caused the fire. “During boarding of American Airlines flight 2045 with service from San Francisco (SFO) to Miami (MIA), smoke was reported from inside a customer’s bag,” the airline stated. “The bag was quickly removed by our crew members and all customers exited the aircraft.”
ABC7’s news helicopter captured footage of firefighters placing a laptop into a water-filled container at the scene. Evacuated passengers returned to the terminal following the incident.
“We thank our crew members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience,” American Airlines added in their statement. The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321neo.
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