Fire on board: American Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Denver

Moments of fear aboard an American Airlines flight forced to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport due to an engine fire. The plane, a Boeing 737-800, had left from the airport of Colorado Springs and it was headed to dallas fort worth, but had to change course after the crew reported abnormal engine vibrations.

The images published on social media show scenes of panic: passengers crowded on the wings of the plane, some with their luggage, while flames and a thick cloud of smoke rose from the bottom of the aircraft.

The emergency landing and the fire

The alarm went off around 17pm local time. After receiving the engine problem report, air traffic controllers authorized the pilot to divert the plane to Denver. The landing was successful., but during taxiing to the gate, one of the engines caught fire, forcing the crew to order an immediate evacuation.

The 172 passengers and 6 crew members were disembarked using the emergency slides, while firefighters intervened to put out the fire.

Twelve injured, none in serious condition

Fortunately, there were no casualties. However, 12 people were taken to hospital for minor injuries, such as bruises and minor burns, probably sustained during the evacuation.

American Airlines thanked its cabin crew and first responders for thetimely intervention, underlining how passenger safety is always the company's top priority.

Investigations into the causes of the accident

La Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the'an investigation has been opened to determine the exact causes of the accident. Initially, it was reported that the problem was related to the engine, but it will be necessary to analyze the flight data and the aircraft to determine if there were previous malfunctions or maintenance issues.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane involved, said it was in Contact with the authorities to support the investigation.

Air Safety Concerns in the US

This incident is part of a context of Growing concerns about air safety in the United States. In recent months, several episodes have highlighted some critical issues in the civil aviation sector, such as theWashington DC incident. 

The fire on board the American Airlines flight to Denver was another critical episode, but fortunately it did not turn into a tragedy. The speed of the rescue and the preparation of the crew avoided more serious consequences.

However, attention remains high on the aviation safety in the United States, with authorities and airlines called to strengthen prevention measures to avoid future accidents.