Passengers on flight 1006 were seen standing on the wing of the aircraft, parked at Terminal C, as emergency services hosed down the plane. One X user suggested that the plane's jet fuel had ignited, sharing a photo of flames engulfing the engine.
Denver International Airport confirmed that there was a fire "on an American Airlines plane" at gate C38 on Thursday evening, which produced "visible smoke."
The airport then stated: "Passengers were evacuated and the slides were deployed."
The FAA released a statement saying: "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 moving on the ground 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."
Denver International Airport (DIA) ranks as one of the USA's largest and busiest hubs, with around 1,500 flights touching down or taking off daily, covering both domestic and international routes.
This incident comes amid growing concerns over aviation safety after a string of recent disasters, from urban crashes to uncontrolled blazes and the latest aircraft disappearance near Nome, Alaska, has rattled American nerves, prompting questions about whether this series of events represents a new normal and, crucially, if flying remains safe.
Airline industry experts are adamant that it is. Despite the dramatic series of recent accidents resulting in fatalities.
In the midst of these safety worries, the Associated Press revealed that air traffic controllers were nudged by an email suggesting they consider a severance package put forward by President Donald Trump—a strategy driven by Elon Musk's eager squad to cut government spending by trimming the workforce, sometimes axing whole departments.
Dr. Shahidi shed light on the current state of aviation, asserting, "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."
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