An American Airlines flight from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth was forced to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday evening after the crew reported engine vibrations. Shortly after landing, one of the plane's engines caught fire on the tarmac, prompting an evacuation of passengers via wing and emergency slide.
All 172 passengers and six crew members survived, but 12 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Videos posted on social media showed passengers standing on the wing as thick smoke poured from the engine, with flames visible behind them.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the flight diverted and landed safely around 5.15pm local time on March 13, but after landing, while taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire. The National Transportation Safety Board has announced it will investigate the incident.
A passenger, Gabrielle Hibbitts, told CBS News Colorado that as soon as the plane landed, they smelled a weird burning plastic smell, and then everyone started screaming about a fire. American Airlines thanked its crew and first responders for their quick action, prioritising safety.
A replacement aircraft and crew were provided to transport the remaining passengers to Dallas early on Friday. The incident adds to a series of recent aviation issues in the US, following a deadly midair collision in Washington in January and other close calls.
