Denver Airport plane fire: Passengers forced on to jet's wing after fuel catches light

Terrifying video footage on X captured the moment dozens of passengers ran from an American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport

Chilling video footage has surfaced online showing the moment panic-stricken passengers were forced to evacuate onto a plane's wing after jet fuel caught fire.

Those on board the American Airlines flight 1006 were seen standing on the wing of the aircraft, parked at Denver International Airport's Terminal C, while firefighters sprayed it with water. A social media post showed flames engulfing the engine, with claims that the plane's jet fuel had ignited.

Denver International Airport confirmed there was a fire involving an American Airlines plane at gate C38 on Thursday evening, stating it caused "visible smoke." The airport confirmed that the travellers were then taken off the wings using slides: "Passengers were evacuated and the slides were deployed."

Flight 1006, which was headed from the Colorado Springs Airport to Dallas Fort Worth, diverted to Denver and landed safely around 5:15 p.m. after the crew reported engine vibrations, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

Alexandria Cullen, press assistant for Colorado Congressman Gabe Evans, reported that her mother was on board during the ordeal. Her tweet included footage of the terrifying escape, as dense smoke shrouded the surrounding area of the aircraft.

Cullen posted: "American Airlines flight 4012 caught fire after an engine failed.... Plane was diverted to Denver. My mom was on this flight. THANK YOU GOD that they are alive."

The FAA provided an official account of the incident, noting: "American Airlines Flight 1006 diverted to and landed safely at Denver International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time on Thursday, March 13, after the crew reported engine vibrations.

"After landing and while taxiing to the gate an engine caught fire and passengers evacuated the aircraft using the slides. The Boeing 737-800 departed Colorado Springs Airport and was headed to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The FAA will investigate. Please contact the airline for additional information."

There was no immediate clarification on exactly when the plane caught fire. The 172 passengers and six crew members were taken to the terminal, airline officials said. "We thank our crew members, DEN team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority," American said.

This incident adds to a growing unease about aviation safety. A string of calamities ranging from urban crashes to uncontrolled blazes and the recent disappearance of an aircraft near Nome, Alaska has rattled nerves across the States, prompting many to ask, is flying still safe?

Airline industry experts stand firm on the safety of air travel. Despite the dramatic series of recent accidents that have resulted in fatalities, two safety specialists assured the Mirror that flying remains secure.

However, even as they confidently step onto planes today, they concede that the recent events are cause for concern. "This is not a time to be cutting stuff and to be laying people off," stated Dr. Daniel Adjekum, who brings over twenty years of experience in aviation safety management systems, investigating aircraft accidents, and pilot training to the table.

Flight Safety Foundation's Dr. Hassan Shahidi shares concerns over the urgent need for significant safety changes in the aviation industry. In a recent revelation by the Associated Press, air traffic controllers were reportedly nudged in an email towards accepting severance packages—a Trump administration initiative taken forward by Elon Musk’s dynamic team to cut federal spending by trimming the workforce and occasionally shuttering entire departments.

Dr. Shahidi shed light on the condition of U.S. air travel, stating: "I think when we look at our system fundamentally, there isn't anything wrong with the air transportation system in the U.S. That said, there are concerns and we can talk about those concerns - but generally, in 2024 we had a billion people travel by air in the U.S. Thousands of airplanes depart and land every day, with trained pilots and air traffic controllers who are doing their jobs well. But that said, there are concerns."