Following a Thursday reroute to Denver, an American Airlines aircraft’s engine caught fire, necessitating the use of emergency slides to evacuate passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Denver International Airport reported that 12 individuals were sent to hospitals with minor injuries, but the airline reported that all 172 passengers and six crew members had left the aircraft.
After the crew complained of engine vibrations, American Airlines Flight 1006 from Colorado Springs, a Boeing 737-800, veered off course and landed in Denver at approximately 5:15 p.m. (4:15 a.m. PKT), according to the FAA.
On social media, a number of dramatic footages showed people standing on the plane’s wing while smoke billowed from the engine.
When the aircraft encountered a “engine-related issue,” American Airlines reported that it had safely landed and taxied to the gate. We had just landed from Pittsburgh and were close to gate B44. A flash of sudden fire and a lot of smoke were visible as we briefly stopped by the windows, according to witness Aaron Clark.
The fire was short-lived and appeared to have been put out immediately by ground crews. After a while, the smoke persisted, and we noticed people beginning to leave the back slides.
According to flight tracking service FlightRadar24, the aircraft is 13 years old. It had two CFM56 engines, which were produced by CFM International, a joint venture between GE and Safran.
The FAA promised to look into the event. According to a representative for Denver International Airport, the fire has been put out and airline operations have resumed as usual. GE and Boeing refused to comment.
The engine fire is the most recent in a string of high-profile aviation mishaps that have sparked concerns about aviation safety in the United States, such as the mid-air collision between an Army helicopter and an American Airlines regional flight on January 29 that claimed 67 lives.
