American Airlines Passengers Evacuated After Plane Catches Fire at Denver Airport [Video]

Passengers on an American Airlines flight had a terrifying moment when their plane caught fire at Denver International Airport.

Video

The Boeing 737-800, operating as Flight 1006, was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth when it had to make an emergency landing due to engine vibrations.

It touched down safely around 5:15 p.m., but things took a wild turn. While the plane was taxiing to the gate, one of the engines burst into flames. With smoke filling the air, all 172 passengers and six crew members had to evacuate fast. Emergency slides were deployed, and some people even stood on the plane’s wing as fire crews rushed in. Thankfully, firefighters got the flames under control, and everyone made it off safely.

Twelve passengers suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals for evaluation. American Airlines said the fire was caused by a “mechanical issue” and is now working with the FAA to investigate what went wrong.

This isn’t the first emergency landing at Denver International, but seeing a plane on fire right at the gate was a rare and scary sight. Videos of the incident quickly spread online, showing the chaotic evacuation. The FAA and NTSB are now investigating to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Meanwhile, American Airlines apologized for the incident and worked to get passengers on another flight to Dallas.

BREAKING: An American Airlines plane carrying 178 people appeared to catch fire on the tarmac after making an emergency landing at Denver International Airport Thursday evening, forcing passengers to evacuate by climbing out onto the wing of the plane. https://t.co/gWlirSyILE pic.twitter.com/AOSU1iB24H

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 14, 2025