Passengers on an American Airlines flight had to get off the plane suddenly at Denver Airport on Thursday, March 11, after the engine had problems mid-air and caught fire.
The plane had to change course after the engine started shaking
Flight AA 1006 took off from Colorado Springs Airport at 4:52 pm, heading for Dallas Fort Worth. But not long after the takeoff, the crew noticed the engine was vibrating, so they changed paths to Denver.
Terrified passengers fled onto the wing
Scared passengers rushed onto the wing as thick smoke poured out of the plane.
The engine caught fire while taxiing to the gate
The FAA said the engine caught fire while the plane was taxiing to the gate, so passengers had to evacuate using the slides.
Emergency slides were deployed and the passengers were evacuated from the plane immediately
The emergency slides came down and passengers got off the plane, some walking around the tarmac as crews guided them to safety.
“Passengers were evacuated, and the slides were deployed,” the airport said. The fire was put out, and luckily, no one was hurt.
Ladders and portable stairs were used to help passengers down
Denver International Airport told KDVR that an American Airlines plane at gate C38 caught fire Thursday evening, sending up visible smoke.
Thick smoke filled the air as firefighters responded
A video from inside the airport showed ground crew setting up ladders under the wing to help passengers get down.
Later, portable stairs were brought over, and people were guided safely to the tarmac before heading back inside the airport.
Six passengers were taken to the hospital for evaluation
A man was spotted holding onto a woman as they carefully made their way across the unsteady wing.
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ABC News said there were only a few minor injuries, but six passengers were taken to the hospital just to get checked out.
American Airlines issued a statement thanking first responders
American Airlines put out a statement thanking first responders for their quick action.
“After landing safely and taxiing to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines Flight 1006 experienced an engine-related issue,” the airline said.
A total of 172 passengers and 6 crew members evacuated the plane and were taken to the terminal
“We thank our crew members, DEN team, and first responders for acting fast and making safety the top priority.”
The incident only adds to the HUGE list of aviation accidents that happened this year
This scary evacuation is just the latest in a string of recent aviation incidents. Earlier this year, an American Airlines flight crashed into a helicopter, killing 67 people in January.
With these accidents piling up, public confidence in air travel has taken a hit—especially after Donald Trump’s FAA shake-up, which cut staff just weeks after the deadly crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
