American Airlines Plane Catches Fire at Denver Airport, 12 Hospitalized with Minor Injuries (Video)

Passengers on an American Airlines flight were forced to stand on the wing of the plane at Denver International Airport as they evacuated the aircraft after one of its engines caught fire on Thursday evening, March 23, sending thick black smoke into the air.

American Airlines Flight 1006, a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth with 172 passengers and six crew members, diverted to Denver around 5:15 p.m. local time after the crew reported “engine vibrations,” according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“After landing and while taxiing to the gate an engine caught fire,” the statement said.

The FAA is still investigating.

Shortly before landing, the plane’s pilot informed air traffic controllers in Denver that the flight was experiencing engine issues but clarified that it was not an emergency, according to air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net.

“American 10,006, uh, 1006 just to verify not an emergency still, correct?” the controller asked.

“Nah, we just have a high engine vibration so we are cruising slower than normal,” the pilot responded.