American Airlines Plane Catches Fire After Emergency Landing in Denver

Source: Joe Raedle / Getty

Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight experienced a terrifying ordeal Thursday evening when their plane caught fire on the tarmac after an emergency landing at Denver International Airport. The incident forced an urgent evacuation, with passengers scrambling onto a wing and using emergency slides to escape.

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The Boeing 737-800, carrying 172 passengers and six crew members, had departed from Colorado Springs en route to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. However, the flight was diverted to Denver due to reported engine vibrations. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the fire broke out after the plane had safely landed and was taxiing to the gate.

Videos posted on social media captured flames and thick smoke billowing from the aircraft as passengers rushed to safety. Twelve people sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with one passenger, Gabrielle Hibbitts, telling 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.”

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Her mother, Ingrid Hibbitts, expressed gratitude that the fire occurred on the ground rather than mid-flight. “It was surreal. I was like, ‘Is this gonna blow up? What’s happening here?’ 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,” she said.

American Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, citing an “engine-related issue” as the cause of the fire. The airline promptly arranged for a replacement aircraft and crew to transport affected passengers to Dallas, with a new flight scheduled for early Friday morning.

Aviation safety experts, including former National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt, emphasized the importance of well-trained personnel in handling such emergencies. “This incident highlights the critical role of trained pilots, flight attendants, airport rescue teams, and air traffic controllers in ensuring a safe outcome,” Sumwalt explained.

The FAA has launched an investigation into the fire, with particular focus on when and where it started. “We need to understand exactly when the smoke began and why it filled the cabin after reaching the gate,” Sumwalt noted.

As officials work to determine the cause, passengers and crew are left shaken but grateful for their safe escape.

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