The plane, which was carrying 172 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth when the crew reported vibrations coming from the engines. This prompted an immediate diversion to Denver around 5.15pm MST. What began purely as a safety measure turned into a terrifying landing and approach to the terminal building as the right engine burst into flames on taxiing, forcing a rapid evacuation before the plane reached the gate.
The engine of an American Airlines plane caught fire after it had safely landed in the US city of Denver on Thursday.
The Boeing 737-800 was stationary at a gate when smoke started to pour out of the engine, forcing passengers and crew to evacuate using the plane's slides.
No injuries were reported, and firefighters extinguished the blaze, a spokesperson for Denver International Airport said.The flight with 172 passengers and six crew members on board was originally supposed to land in Dallas.
But it was diverted from its planned destination after the crew reported engine vibrations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Boeing declined to comment, referring queries to American Airlines and investigators.
The engine fire is the latest in a series of high-profile aviation incidents that have raised questions about US aviation safety.
In January, the mid-air collision of an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter killed 67 people.
Witnesses described the scene as panic stricken. Passenger Gabrielle Hibbitts told local media, ‘We could smell burning plastic as we landed, then everyone started screaming about a fire.’ Video footage circulating online shows flames licking the engine and thick smoke billowing as dozens of passengers scrambled onto the wing while others slid down emergency chutes. Ground crews rushed ladders to help passengers down, while firefighters extinguished the blaze within minutes.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the safe landing but say the fire erupted post-touchdown. Twelve passengers were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, mostly caused by the rapid evacuation.
American Airlines praised crew members, the airport’s team, and emergency responders for their rapid action to get passengers out, and for finding a replacement aircraft to resume the Dallas journey. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, focusing on the nature of the engine failure following a recent spate of aviation incidents across the US.
