Twelve people were hospitalized after an American Airlines flight landed at Denver International Airport on Thursday and caught fire, prompting an evacuation using emergency slides.
According to Denver International Airport’s post on X, all of the injured passengers had minor injuries.
Flight 1006, traveling from Colorado Springs Airport to Dallas Fort Worth, was diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations. The Boeing 737-800 safely landed around 5:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While taxiing to the gate, one of the aircraft’s engines caught fire. Photos and videos shared by news outlets showed passengers standing on the plane’s wing as smoke billowed around the aircraft. The FAA confirmed that passengers evacuated using the emergency slides.
American Airlines stated that the flight experienced an engine-related issue while taxiing to the gate. The exact moment the plane caught fire has not been clarified.
The 172 passengers and six crew members were safely taken to the terminal, according to airline officials.
American Airlines expressed gratitude toward their crew, the Denver International Airport (DEN) team, and first responders for their swift and decisive actions, prioritizing the safety of everyone onboard and on the ground.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire by the evening, according to an airport spokesperson.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that it will investigate the incident.
While there has been a recent surge in aviation incidents and close calls, which have raised concerns about air travel, flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation. Recent on-the-ground accidents include a plane crash in Toronto that flipped upon landing and a Japan Airlines aircraft that clipped a parked Delta plane while taxiing at Seattle’s airport.