A Boeing 737-800 operated by American Airlines caught fire on Thursday at Denver Airport, located in the central United States.
The aircraft, registration N885NN, departed at 4:50 PM local time, ten minutes later than scheduled, from Colorado Springs, a city south of Denver, operating as flight AA1006 to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The plane was flying southeast when the pilots reportedly felt engine vibrations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as reported by the BBC.
Engine on fire
After flying for about half an hour, the 737 turned around. Instead of returning to its departure airport, the pilots decided to make an unscheduled landing in Denver. Once safely on the ground, the aircraft taxied toward the apron, stopping at gate C38. That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
‘After American Airlines Flight 1006 landed safely and taxied to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), it experienced an engine-related issue,’ an American Airlines spokesperson told Simple Flying. Videos circulating on social media show flames erupting from one of the engines.
Evacuation at the gate
All 172 passengers and six crew members were evacuated using emergency slides. The footage shows some passengers—some carrying their hand luggage, despite strict evacuation rules prohibiting this—moving onto the aircraft’s wing. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported. ‘We thank our crew, the DEN team, and emergency responders for their swift and crucial actions, ensuring the safety of everyone on board and on the ground,’ the spokesperson stated. As of now, the 737 remains grounded in Denver.