All passengers from an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 flight had to escape to the wing because of a fire that occurred during an emergency landing at Denver International Airport. The aircraft departed from Colorado Springs with 172 passengers and six crew members bound for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport when the crew noticed “engine vibrations” which led them to divert to Denver at 17:15 local time (23:15 GMT).
The aircraft started to burn after landing until it reached the taxiway and released heavy smoke into the air. Passengers were filmed sitting on the aircraft wing while holding their possessions during the time when flames approached the plane’s undercarriage. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) verified that passengers used inflatable slides to evacuate safely to the tarmac before starting an investigation about the incident.
Airport officials confirmed twelve people received minor injuries yet no one suffered major injuries during the incident. The dramatic situation did not impact flight operations at Denver International Airport as confirmed by airport spokesperson Michael Konopasek.
Social media platforms featured videos of the airport crisis which documented ground crew members helping passengers as smoke filled the aircraft. The emergency slides activated while flames emerged from underneath the right engine.
The recent aviation accident occurred after multiple safety incidents affected North American airspace. The fatal Washington D.C. crash between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter caused concerns about air traffic controller staffing levels. Government budget cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration resulted in FAA personnel reductions which included maintenance mechanics and technical assistants among the staff eliminated.
The ongoing investigation into the fire incident has intensified safety concerns about airlines which demonstrates the essential function of aviation regulatory oversight.
