Footage from Thursday’s fire showed extensive damage to the aircraft, with a section on the right side above the wing scorched black.
An American Airlines aircraft suddenly caught fire after it was diverted to Denver International Airport on Thursday night, forcing passengers to evacuate onto the plane’s wing as dense black smoke spread across the tarmac. Flight AA 1006 took off from Colorado Springs Airport at 4:52 p.m. and was bound for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
American Airlines Flight 1006, with 172 passengers and six crew members, landed in Denver at 5:15 p.m and the aircraft’s engine caught fire while it was taxiing on the tarmac, FAA said. « After landing and while taxiing to the gate an engine caught fire and passengers evacuated the aircraft using the slides », said the FAA.
Major Tragedy Avoided
The harrowing evacuation on the tarmac is the most recent in a string of crashes and close calls involving U.S. passenger planes, including the American Airlines flight that collided with a helicopter in January, resulting in 67 deaths.
The incidents have heightened public concerns about aviation safety, especially following Donald Trump’s FAA overhaul, which led to widespread staff cuts just weeks after the deadly crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
