Passengers and crew safely evacuated an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Denver International Airport after an engine caught fire. The aircraft carried 172 passengers and 6 crew members when it made an emergency landing following engine vibrations on its route from Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth.
Witnesses captured dramatic footage showing passengers huddled on the wing as flames engulfed the right engine. Ground crews rushed with ladders while travelers used inflatable slides to reach the tarmac. No injuries occurred during the incident. Airport officials quickly extinguished the fire, allowing other flights to continue without delays.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun investigating the cause. American Airlines confirmed the emergency resulted from an “engine-related issue.” Pilots diverted the aircraft to Denver around 5:15 pm local time after detecting the problem.
This emergency follows recent aviation incidents across North America that have heightened safety concerns. A collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army helicopter in Washington DC killed 67 people. This crash raised questions about air traffic controller staffing levels.
Adding to industry challenges, the Trump administration recently cut hundreds of FAA probationary jobs. These cuts affected maintenance mechanics and technical staff as part of government spending reductions. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk leads these efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency.
