An American Airways airplane carrying 178 individuals caught fireplace on the tarmac after making an emergency touchdown at Denver Worldwide Airport Thursday night, forcing many passengers to evacuate by climbing out onto a wing and with emergency slides. Airport officers mentioned 12 passengers had been taken to a hospital with minor accidents.
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The fireplace began simply earlier than 6 p.m. Mountain Time after the airplane, a Boeing 737-800, diverted to the airport because of what gave the impression to be an engine challenge.
The Federal Aviation Administration instructed CBS Information in an announcement that American Airways Flight 1006 had departed from Colorado Springs Airport and was certain for Dallas Fort Price Worldwide Airport when the “crew reported engine vibrations.”
“After touchdown and whereas taxiing to the gate an engine caught fireplace and passengers evacuated the plane utilizing the slides,” the FAA mentioned.
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In a separate assertion, American Airways mentioned the airplane skilled an “engine-related challenge” after it had landed and taxied to the gate.
The airline mentioned all 172 passengers and 6 crewmembers obtained off and had been “being relocated to the terminal.”
The airplane wound up parking at gate C38 at Concource C.
A number of movies posted on social media present flames coming from the airplane and folks evacuating by climbing onto a wing. Heavy smoke was seen coming from the airplane throughout the chaotic scene.
Alexandria Cullen 
An airport official instructed CBS Information the hearth was extinguished quickly afterwards.
A member of the family of one of many passengers instructed CBS Information Colorado that each one the baggage was taken off the airplane and the passengers had been being rebooked for a flight that was scheduled to depart Denver for Dallas at 1 a.m. native time Friday. American Airways later confirmed that it was sending a substitute plane and crew to assist clients proceed on to DFW.
One passenger, Gabrielle Hibbitts, instructed CBS Information Colorado that, “As quickly because the airplane landed, we smelled this bizarre burning plastic scent after which everyone began screaming and saying there was a fireplace.”
She mentioned as soon as she and her sister had been a protected distance away, “We noticed the airplane … and there was smoke all over the place.”
Their mom, Ingrid Hibbitts, instructed CBS Information Colorado, “It was surreal. I used to be like, ‘Is that this gonna blow up. … What’s taking place right here? Are they gonna have the ability to put out the hearth?’ I am actually grateful that this occurred on the bottom as a result of if this occurred within the air, I do not suppose I would be standing right here telling you the story.”
CBS Information transportation security analyst Robert Sumwalt, a former chairman of the Nationwide Transportation Security Board, mentioned the emergency response on Thursday exhibits “the significance of getting well-trained pilots, well-trained flight attendants, well-trained airport rescue and firefighting personnel and air visitors controllers, all working collectively to make sure a protected consequence when one thing like this occurs.”
Sumwalt mentioned it is possible the FAA investigation into the incident will deal with when and the place the hearth began.
“We have to essentially perceive precisely when this smoke began and … I am undecided precisely why hastily, after they obtained to the gate, the smoke began filling the passenger cabin. I believe that will probably be part of the investigation,” Sumwalt mentioned.
Kris Van Cleave and
contributed to this report.
