Terrifying videos were posted on social media showing the terrified passengers on the wing of the burning plane
Horrified American Airlines passengers have been forced to escape a burning plane by climbing onto the wing.
The plane’s engine suddenly caught fire with smoke seen billowing across the airport after it diverted to land in Denver on Thursday.
American Airlines Flight 1006 from Colorado Springs landed in Denver around 5.15pm local time (11.15pm GMT), after diverting from its planned destination of Dallas.
Crew on board the on a Boeing 737-800 reported engine vibrations before it went up in flames, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
Several dramatic videos of passengers standing on the wing of the plane before evacuating as smoke poured out the engine were posted on social media.
All 172 passengers on board, along with six crew members were evacuated safely after the scary ordeal, the company said.
The airport confirmed that travellers were finally freed from the wing of the plane using emergency slides.
There were no reports of serious injuries but 12 people were taken to hospital in minor conditions.
“After landing safely and taxiing to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines Flight 1006 experienced an engine-related issue,” the airline said in a statement.
“The 172 customers and six crew members deplaned and are being relocated to the terminal.
“We thank our crew members, team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority,” the airline added.
The FAA said it is now investigating the incident.
Boeing declined to comment, referring queries to American Airlines and investigators.
The engine fire is the latest in a series of high-profile aviation incidents that have raised questions about US aviation safety.
On January 29, a horror mid-air collision saw an American Airlines regional jet be hit by an Army helicopter that killed 67 people.
A Delta plane also crashed and flipped on its roof at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada injuring at least 18 people – including a child.
At least one of the wings was broken off after the crash in February but the main body appeared intact, according to video of the scene.
A number of recent plane crashes in the US have left Americans terrified of traveling by air.
However, aviation expert and attorney Jason Matzus told The U.S. Sun the crashes can be attributed to “random clustering.”
“While these events are tragic, the likely explanation is simply ‘random clustering,’ which occurs when multiple crashes occur over a short period, warping our general perception and causing us to think that there is an increasing trend in plane crashes,” Matzus said.
“When in reality these crashes, despite being so close together, are merely coincidental and not caused by a systemic safety issue.”
The short period Matzus is referring to is just a matter of three weeks. The recent aviation mishaps include:
January 29 – A military helicopter and American Airlines plane collided at the Washington DC airport and killed 67 people
January 31 – An air ambulance carrying a six-year-old girl and her mom crashed onto a street in Philadelphia, killing seven people in total
February 5 – A Japan Airlines flight hit a parked Delta plane at Seattle SeaTac Airport and no one was injured
February 6 – A small commuter plane on its way to Nome, Alaska, crashed and killed all 10 people on board
February 10 – Motley Crue singer Vince Neil’s private jet collided into another plane, killing the pilot and injuring four others
February 17 – A Delta plane crashed onto the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport, miraculously killing no one but injuring 21
February 19 – Two planes collided at Marana Airport in Arizona, killing two people.
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