An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday after its engine caught fire. The plane, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying 172 passengers and six crew members.
The flight originally departed from Colorado Springs and was heading to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. However, mid-flight, the crew detected “engine vibrations” and decided to divert to Denver.
The aircraft landed safely at around 5:15 PM local time, but as it taxied on the tarmac, flames erupted from one of the engines.
Thick smoke billowed into the air, forcing passengers and crew to evacuate immediately.
Amateur videos showed passengers standing on the plane’s wing while others slid down inflatable emergency slides.
Some held onto their carry-on luggage despite urgent evacuation protocols. Emergency crews responded quickly and managed to put out the fire.
No Fatalities, But Some Injuries
Authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities. However, 12 people were taken to the hospital for minor injuries, mostly from smoke inhalation and minor falls during the evacuation.
American Airlines released a statement confirming that the fire resulted from an “engine-related issue.“
🚨 BREAKING: American Airlines Plane Erupts in Flames at Denver Airport—Passengers Evacuate in Chaos
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) March 14, 2025
This isn’t normal.
🔥 An American Airlines plane just caught fire at Denver International Airport.
🔥 Passengers were forced to evacuate onto the wing as flames and thick smoke… pic.twitter.com/VWkUm1B1rn
The airline assured the public that all passengers were safely evacuated and that they were cooperating with investigators.
Growing Concerns Over Aviation Safety
This incident adds to a series of troubling aviation events in North America. Just weeks earlier, a mid-air collision near Washington, D.C., raised concerns about air traffic controller workloads. Meanwhile, budget cuts under the Trump administration have led to the termination of hundreds of FAA probationary workers, including maintenance mechanics and technical assistants.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating the cause of the fire and whether maintenance issues played a role. Officials have not yet confirmed if similar Boeing 737-800 aircraft will face additional safety checks.
Passengers praised the flight crew and emergency responders for their swift actions. “It was scary, but they got us out quickly,” one passenger said. Another added, “I just grabbed my bag and ran—probably not the smartest decision, but I was in panic mode.“
For now, American Airlines has grounded the aircraft for inspection, and investigators are reviewing flight data to determine what went wrong.
Like 👍, Comment, share this article, and Follow us on our social media handles.
Feel free to download and share our Daily Newsletter for Friday, March 14, 2025. 👇
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
