“Quick and decisive” action ensured safe evacuation after American Airlines engine fire
Passengers aboard an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 were forced to evacuate at Denver International Airport on Thursday evening after one of the aircraft’s engines caught fire. The “quick and decisive” action of crew and ground handlers has been credited with the safe evacuation of all onboard.
American Airlines Flight 1006, which had taken off from Colorado Springs, was en route to Dallas-Fort Worth with 172 passengers and six crew, when the flight was diverted to Denver at around 5.15pm local time, due to reported engine vibrations.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has launched an investigation, “after landing and while taxiing to the gate, an engine caught fire.”
Emergency response and evacuation
Air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net revealed that while the pilot had reported engine issues to Denver ATC, it was initially not considered an emergency – though it was causing the aircraft to “cruise slower than normal.” However, after landing, the situation quickly escalated when the engine caught fire, prompting a Mayday call.
Ground crews and firefighters swiftly extinguished the flames and all passengers were evacuated. Images from the scene showed dozens of passengers standing on the aircraft’s wing as smoke billowed around them. Emergency slides were also deployed, with reports indicating that 12 passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
In a statement from American Airlines praised the rapid response saying: “We thank our crew members, Denver team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as a priority.”
Aviation safety under scrutiny
Thursday’s incident follows a growing number of aviation incidents in recent weeks. Less than a month ago a Delta Air Lines plane crashed and flipped over upon landing at Toronto Pearson. This was preceded by a Japan Airlines aircraft clipping a parked Delta aircraft while taxiing at Seattle Airport, as well as multiple fatal crashes this year, including in Alaska, Philadelphia and Washington D.C., where an American Airlines plane collided midair with a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, killing 67 people.
Amid rising concerns over aviation safety, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom had, on Tuesday, reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to working with regulators to enhance safety. In response to the US Transport Secretary, Sean Duffy’s press conference underlining plans to modernise air traffic control and supercharge staffing, Isom stated, “We will continue to work with the Trump Administration and Congress to make our aviation system even safer.”
