Passengers on an American Airways flight had been evacuated onto the tarmac of a Colorado airport as a fireplace broke out on the airplane, sending smoke billowing into the air.
Footage of the evacuation confirmed passengers huddled on the wing of the Boeing airliner, some holding baggage, with flames burning close to the underside of the airplane.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated passengers used inflatable slides to achieve the bottom safely on the Denver Worldwide Airport. The company stated it could examine the reason for the incident.
There have been no experiences of significant accidents, though the airport later confirmed 12 folks had been taken to hospital for minor accidents.
The flight took off from close by Colorado Springs and was on the best way to Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport in Texas, the FAA stated in a press release to the BBC.
The airplane diverted to Denver round 17:15 pm native time (23:15 GMT) after the crew reported “engine vibrations,” the FAA stated.
After the flight landed, it caught hearth whereas taxiing on the tarmac on the airport.
American Airways stated the airplane had 172 passengers on board, together with six crew members. All had been evacuated safely, the corporate stated.
It stated the airplane was a Boeing 737-800 and skilled an “engine-related subject”.
Smoke and flames had been seen from varied gates on the airport, in response to airport spokesman Michael Konopasek. He stated the hearth was doused and it didn’t result in delays for different flights.
A few of these contained in the airport posted movies on social media exhibiting the airplane’s passengers strolling towards the sting of the wing as massive clouds of black smoke stuffed the air.
Grounds crew will be seen dashing to the wing whereas pushing ladders.
Video confirmed energetic flames below the airplane’s proper engine as an inflatable evacuation slide appeared on the plane’s rear door.
The incident comes after a current string of high-profile accidents in North America have raised issues about aviation security.
A deadly crash in Washington DC left 67 folks useless when an American Airways regional jet collided mid-air with a US Military Black Hawk helicopter. The crash within the US capital metropolis led to questions on air site visitors controller shortages and their workloads.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has additionally terminated lots of of FAA probationary employees as a part of authorities cost-saving efforts.
The layoffs occurred weeks after the deadly DC crash.
The laid off FAA staff included upkeep mechanics, environmental compliance employees and technical assistants.
Trump has pushed to scale back authorities spending with tech billionaire Elon Musk spearheading efforts as a part of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
Kayla Epstein contributed to this text.
