Twelve people were hospitalized with minor injuries after an American Airlines flight caught fire while taxiing at Denver International Airport on Wednesday, shortly after an emergency landing prompted by reports of “engine vibrations,” airline officials said.
Dramatic footage shared on social media showed passengers standing on the wings of the Boeing 737-800 as flames engulfed part of the aircraft. Evacuees were later brought to safety using emergency slides.
Flight 1006 departed Colorado Springs at 4:52 p.m., bound for Dallas-Fort Worth, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. However, just 22 minutes into the flight, the crew diverted to Denver, landing at 4:55 p.m.
Air traffic control audio captured by LiveATC.net revealed the pilots initially downplayed the situation.
“American 1006 — just to verify: not an emergency still, correct?” a Denver air traffic controller asked.
“Not an emergency,” the pilot responded. “We just have a high engine vibration, so we are cruising slower than normal.”
Minutes later, however, the situation escalated.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! Mayday! Engine fire!” a voice urgently called over the radio after the plane landed.
All 172 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated and transported to the terminal, according to American Airlines.
Emergency responders quickly extinguished the fire. While the cause remains unclear, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it has launched an investigation.
In a statement, American Airlines praised the swift actions of its staff and first responders:
“We thank our crew members, DEN team, and first responders for their quick and decisive action, prioritizing the safety of everyone on board and on the ground.”
The incident comes amid growing concerns about aviation safety following a series of recent on-the-ground mishaps. These include a plane that overturned upon landing in Toronto and a Japan Airlines aircraft that clipped a parked Delta plane while taxiing in Seattle.
Despite these high-profile events, experts continue to emphasize that air travel remains one of the safest modes of transportation.
