An engine on an American Airlines plane caught fire shortly after landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday night, forcing the crew to emergency evacuate the passengers.
The travelers descended to the left wing of the aircraft as smoke enveloped the structure.
Stunning images shared on social media and news outlets showed passengers standing on the wing of the plane, surrounded by a dense column of smoke as they waited to be rescued.
In some of these images, flames can also be seen emerging from the aircraft before firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.
American Airlines Flight 1006 -a Boeing 737-800- was carrying 172 passengers and six crew members. The plane had taken off from Colorado Springs Airport en route to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
However, the crew detected "vibrations in the engine" at approximately 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT), which forced an emergency landing in Denver.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), "after landing and while taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire and the passengers evacuated the aircraft using the slides."
The airplane was located at gate C38 when the fire was detected. Emergency teams responded immediately and managed to extinguish the flames without any fatalities reported.
However, 12 passengers were taken to a hospital for evaluation, although their injuries were reported as minor.
A spokesperson for the airport confirmed to the media that the fire started while the plane was at the boarding gate and that evacuation slides were deployed to ensure the rapid exit of passengers.
"The evacuation was carried out successfully and without serious complications," according to the source, as reported by the U.S. press.
Ongoing investigation
The FAA announced that it will conduct an investigation to determine the causes of the fire.
American Airlines, for its part, issued a statement confirming that the plane had experienced "an issue with the engine" after landing in Denver, but did not provide further details regarding the source of the failure.
This incident adds to a series of aviation mishaps that have raised concerns in the United States about safety in commercial flights. In particular, some experts have warned that budget cuts to aviation agencies may be affecting aircraft maintenance and oversight protocols
A series of recent aviation accidents in the U.S.
This accident adds to a series of aerial incidents that have occurred in recent weeks in the United States, both in the military and civilian sectors.
- On January 29, a commercial airplane and a military helicopter collided near Washington, resulting in 67 fatalities.
- On January 31, a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia, claiming the lives of six people on board and one on the ground.
- On February 7, a small passenger plane crashed in Alaska, resulting in the death of ten people.
- On February 10, a tragic air accident occurred on the afternoon of this Monday at Scottsdale Airport in Arizona, resulting in one death and several injuries, after a private plane collided with another aircraft parked on the runway.
- On February 12, a U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growler military aircraft crashed in San Diego Bay, California. In this instance, both crew members were able to eject before the impact and were successfully rescued, according to authorities.
- On February 15, two people died after a Rockwell Commander aircraft crashed at the Covington Municipal Airport, located about 55 kilometers east of Atlanta, Georgia.
- On February 19, at least two people died after the mid-air collision of two single-engine planes at the Marana Regional Airport in the state of Arizona.
- On February 25, a Southwest Airlines plane nearly caused a serious accident at Midway International Airport in Chicago. A flight that had taken off from Omaha, Nebraska, was forced to abruptly abort its landing when a private Flexjet jet dangerously entered its path.
-On March 9, a small plane crashed in a residential area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, resulting in a preliminary toll of five people injured.
- On March 10, a medical transport helicopter crashed in Madison County, Mississippi, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and two hospital workers. The aircraft, belonging to the AirCare service of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, was not carrying patients at the time of the accident.
Additionally, on February 17, a Delta Airlines plane overturned while landing at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, and left at least 15 injured, three of whom are in serious condition.
Frequently asked questions about the American Airlines plane fire in Denver
What happened with the American Airlines plane in Denver?
An American Airlines plane engine caught fire after making an emergency landing at Denver International Airport, which necessitated the urgent evacuation of passengers.
How many people were on board the affected plane?
American Airlines Flight 1006, a Boeing 737-800, was carrying a total of 178 people, including 172 passengers and six crew members.
Were there any injuries or fatalities in the incident?
Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, although 12 passengers were taken to a hospital for evaluation due to minor injuries.
What was the cause of the fire in the airplane's engine?
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), although it is known that the aircraft experienced "engine vibrations" prior to the emergency landing.
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