Passengers evacuate as American Airlines plane catches fire at Denver airport gate

Airline reported that airplane faced an “engine-related issue”

Web Desk

14 Mar, 2025

World

Passengers standing on the wing of an American Airlines plane as they are evacuated after it caught fire while at a gate at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado on 13 March 2025. AFP

Passengers on an American Airlines flight were evacuated onto the tarmac of a Colorado airport after a fire broke out on the plane, creating large plumes of smoke.

Video footage captured the evacuation, showing passengers gathered on the wing of the Boeing aircraft, some clutching their bags, while flames were visible near the bottom of the plane.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that passengers used inflatable slides to reach the ground at Denver International Airport safely.

The agency announced that it would investigate the cause of the fire.

The airport authorities later confirmed that 12 individuals were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

The flight, which had taken off from Colorado Springs, was heading to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, according to a statement from the FAA to the BBC.

The plane diverted to Denver around 5:15pm GMT after the crew reported experiencing “engine vibrations.”

Upon landing, the aircraft caught fire while taxiing on the tarmac. American Airlines confirmed that there were 172 passengers and six crew members on board, all of whom were evacuated safely.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-800, and the airline reported that it faced an “engine-related issue.”

Smoke and flames were visible from various gates at the airport, but fortunately, the fire was extinguished without causing delays for other flights, according to airport spokesman Michael Konopasek.

Some individuals inside the airport shared videos on social media, showing passengers making their way toward the edge of the wing as thick clouds of black smoke billowed around them.

Ground crew members were seen rushing to the aircraft with ladders, and video footage captured flames coming from under the plane’s right engine while an inflatable evacuation slide was deployed from the rear door.

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