Denver, Colorado: Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight were evacuated onto the tarmac at Denver International Airport after a fire broke out on the aircraft, sending thick smoke into the air. No injuries were reported.
Footage of the evacuation showed passengers gathered on the wing of the Boeing 737-800, some holding their belongings, while flames burned near the aircraft’s underside. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that passengers exited safely using inflatable slides.
The flight had departed from Colorado Springs and was en route to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport when the crew reported “engine vibrations,” prompting a diversion to Denver at approximately 17:15 local time (23:15 GMT), according to the FAA. The fire ignited while the aircraft was taxiing after landing.
American Airlines stated that 172 passengers and six crew members were onboard, all of whom evacuated safely. The airline attributed the incident to an “engine-related issue.”
Michael Konopasek, a spokesperson for the airport, reported that smoke and flames were visible from multiple gates, but the fire was quickly extinguished, preventing delays for other flights.
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. pic.twitter.com/4wBsFlj4TU
— Alexandria Cullen (@AlexandriaCTV) March 14, 2025
Videos shared on social media captured the dramatic evacuation, with passengers moving toward the edge of the wing as dense black smoke billowed into the sky. Ground crews rushed to assist, using ladders to help passengers descend.
This incident follows a series of aviation accidents in North America that have heightened concerns about air safety.
A recent mid-air collision in Washington, DC, between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter resulted in 67 fatalities. The crash has sparked discussions on air traffic controller shortages and their increasing workloads.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has terminated hundreds of FAA probationary workers as part of a cost-cutting initiative led by tech billionaire Elon Musk under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The layoffs, which occurred just weeks after the DC crash, affected maintenance mechanics, environmental compliance workers, and technical assistants.
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