American Airlines plane bursts into flames forcing passengers onto aircraft wing
Alarming footage captures the instant an aircraft erupted in flames, compelling evacuated travelers to stand on the plane's wing.
On Thursday (March 13), an American Airlines aircraft heading to Texas suddenly caught fire after touching down at Denver International Airport runway, causing nearly 200 individuals to escape the flames onto the aircraft's wings. Many passengers were seen packed onto the wing while dense black smoke surrounded the aircraft.
Some travelers also left via emergency slides while fire crews sprayed the aircraft with water. The Boeing 737-800 had departed from Colorado Springs at 4:52pm local time, intended for Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport. However, it was redirected to Denver airport at 5:15pm after staff members signaled that the aircraft was experiencing "engine vibrations," according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA stated: "After landing and while moving to the gate an engine ignited and passengers left the aircraft using the slides."
The American Airlines Flight 1006 reportedly carried 172 passengers and six staff members when the engine ignited as it moved along the tarmac.
The pilot informed air traffic controllers in Denver that the Boeing had some engine problems but allegedly said it was not an emergency, reports the Independent. Audio recording of the report reveals the responder said: "American 10,006, uh, 1006 just to confirm not an emergency still, correct?"
The pilot answered: "Nah, we just have a high engine vibration so we are traveling slower than normal."
Yet, minutes after its touchdown, distress calls were broadcast on the radio as staff could be heard reporting the "engine fire."
An airport representative told CNN that the fire was later put out and all passengers were safely evacuated. Passenger Gabrielle Hibbitts described the incident to CBS News Colorado.
She stated: "Right when the plane landed, we detected this strange burning plastic odor and then everyone began shouting and indicating there was a fire."
"There was smoke all around," she continued, while her mother, Ingrid, characterized the event as 'unreal' with concerns the aircraft would 'explode.'
Ingrid added: "I'm very thankful that this occurred on the ground because if this happened in the air, I don't think I would be here telling you the story."
The Denver Fire Department verified 12 passengers were transported to hospital with minor injuries. In a statement, American Airlines expressed gratitude to its staff members, Denver team and emergency responders "for their swift and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority."
The FAA has also announced it is starting an investigation into the incident, according to the NY Post.
This news represents the latest in a sequence of troubling US aviation accidents and close calls. In January, a commercial American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Washington D.C., killing 67 people. Shortly after, another six passengers, including a young patient, plus one person on the ground in Philadelphia, died when a medical transportation plane fell into a residential area.
Then in February, a commuter plane crashed in Alaska, causing 10 deaths, and an additional 18 people were hurt when a Delta Airlines plane turned upside down while landing in Toronto.
