Smoke billowed into the air after a fire broke out on an American Airlines flight, forcing passengers to be evacuated onto the tarmac of a Colorado airport.
The event did not result in any reported injuries.
Video from the evacuation showed people crouched on the Boeing airliner’s wing, some of them holding luggage, while flames burned close to the aircraft’s bottom.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), travelers at Denver International Airport safely descended via inflatable slides. The organization promised to look into what caused the event.
The FAA told the BBC that the aircraft had taken off from neighboring Colorado Springs and was its route to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas.
After the crew reported “engine vibrations,” the aircraft was diverted to Denver at approximately 17:15 p.m. local time (23:15 p.m. GMT), according to the FAA.
The plane caught fire as it was taxiing on the airport runway after landing.
According to American Airlines, there were six staff members and 172 passengers on board. According to the company, everyone was safely evacuated.
It stated that there was a “engine-related issue” with the Boeing 737-800.
According to airport spokesman Michael Konopasek, smoke and flames could be seen from several airport gates. According to him, the fire was extinguished and other planes were not delayed.
Videos of the plane’s occupants moving toward the wing’s edge while massive black smoke clouds filled the air were shared on social media by several people inside the airport.
The ground crew is seen pushing ladders as they hurry to the wing.
As an inflatable evacuation slide materialized at the aircraft’s rear door, video revealed active flames beneath the right engine.
The event follows a recent spate of high-profile North American aviation mishaps that have sparked worries about aviation safety.
A US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional plane collided in midair in a deadly disaster in Washington, DC, killing 67 people. Concerns regarding air traffic controller shortages and workloads were raised by the crash in the US capital city.
As part of government cost-cutting measures, the Trump administration has also fired hundreds of FAA probationary employees.
Weeks after the fatal DC crash, there were layoffs.
Technical assistants, environmental compliance specialists, and maintenance mechanics were among the FAA employees who were let go.
Elon Musk, a tech entrepreneur, is leading Trump’s attempt to cut government expenditure through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
