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A dramatic scene unfolded on Thursday when an American Airlines plane caught fire mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing in Denver, Texas. The Boeing 737-800, carrying 172 passengers and six crew members, was en route from Colorado Springs to Dallas when the pilots noticed vibrations in the right engine, triggering an emergency diversion.
Around 5:15 p.m. local time (1:15 a.m. Cyprus time), the aircraft veered off course and landed safely at an airport other than its intended destination. Passengers were quickly evacuated as smoke poured from the engine. Shocking footage shared on social media shows passengers standing on the wing of the plane, waiting to be whisked away by emergency teams.
BREAKING: An American Airlines plane carrying 178 people appeared to catch fire on the tarmac after making an emergency landing at Denver International Airport Thursday evening, forcing passengers to evacuate by climbing out onto the wing of the plane. https://t.co/gWlirSyILE pic.twitter.com/AOSU1iB24H
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 14, 2025
Despite the frightening situation, no injuries were reported, and the plane taxied safely to the gate at Denver International Airport. American Airlines praised the quick actions of the crew and the team on the ground for ensuring the safety of everyone aboard. "Our priority was the safety of our customers and those on the ground," the airline said in a statement.
The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is looking into the cause of the engine failure. Boeing has declined to comment, directing all inquiries to the airline’s investigation team.
This incident comes just weeks after a string of aviation tragedies in the U.S. that have raised concerns about air travel safety. In January, a deadly collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter in Washington, D.C., killed 67 people, followed by a medical transport plane crash in Philadelphia in February that claimed seven lives.
Despite these concerns, the quick response to Thursday's emergency landing has been a reminder of how the safety of passengers is always the top priority.
