DENVER — Twelve people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries after an American Airlines plane caught fire upon landing at Denver International Airport on Thursday. The incident prompted an emergency evacuation, with passengers using inflatable slides to exit the aircraft quickly.
Flight 1006, originally headed from Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth, diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations. The plane landed safely around 5:15 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, shortly after landing, a fire broke out, leading to the deployment of emergency slides. All 172 passengers and six crew members were evacuated and taken to the terminal.
Denver International Airport confirmed on social media that the injuries sustained were minor. Firefighters responded swiftly and extinguished the blaze by evening. The FAA has announced it will investigate the incident.
American Airlines expressed gratitude for the quick actions of its crew, airport staff, and first responders. “We thank our crew members, DEN team, and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority,” the airline said in a statement.
This incident comes amid a recent string of aviation-related incidents across the country, raising concerns about air travel safety. Recent events include a plane crash in Toronto where an aircraft flipped upon landing and a Japan Airlines plane clipping a parked Delta plane in Seattle. Despite these incidents, flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation.
Passengers and crew members are safe, and the focus now shifts to understanding what caused the engine vibrations and subsequent fire. For now, the swift response of all involved ensured a potentially dangerous situation was handled with minimal harm.
