American Airlines Plane Caught Fire After Landing – What Happened to Passengers on Board

One of the recent flights mentioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in its aviation accident and incident reports occurred on March 13, 2025. After experiencing engine issues, American Airlines Flight 1006 was diverted to Denver International Airport.

The Boeing 737-800 departed Colorado Springs Airport and was rerouted approximately 20 minutes into the flight, landing in Denver about an hour later.

According to the FAA, the plane landed safely at around 5:15 p.m. local time after the crew reported engine vibrations. Although the flight managed to land without issue, one of its engines caught fire while taxiing to the gate.

Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides at the overwing exit, while some exited via the jet bridge. The flight carried 172 passengers and six crew members, all of whom were able to get off the aircraft safely.

However, a statement from Denver International Airport revealed that 12 people were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Thick black smoke was visible as the plane’s engine burned while it remained on the tarmac.

Other witnesses at the airport recorded additional footage from a safe distance, showing passengers being guided off from the burning plane.

Videos posted on X also captured airport staff working to extinguish the flames as white smoke surrounded them.

Speaking to a news agency shortly after the incident, American Airlines stated, “We thank our crew members, DEN 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 also confirmed that it was arranging a replacement aircraft to transport passengers to their intended destination. The affected travelers would be flown to Dallas-Fort Worth, as the original flight was en route to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when the incident occurred. The FAA is currently investigating the matter.

Unfortunately, this was not the only American Airlines flight that had to divert in recent days. On February 23, a flight en route from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome due to a possible security threat.

Flight 292, which departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport, was scheduled to arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport. When authorities received a bomb threat via email, the alert prompted immediate action. However, officials later determined that the threat was unfounded.

Airport spokesperson Roberto Rao confirmed that Flight AA292 requested a diversion at approximately 2 p.m. local time. “We immediately agreed and organized a safe landing,” he shared.

At the time, Rao was unaware of the specific security concern but noted that the situation seemed serious enough to warrant a diversion, though not urgent. “We received the alert when the plane was over the Caspian Sea, a three-hour flight from Rome,” he explained.

As a precaution, the Italian Air Force dispatched fighter jets to escort the plane safely to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport. A social media video captured two fighter jets flanking the plane as it descended for landing.

Fire trucks were also lined up along one side of the runway, ready to respond in case of an emergency. Just like Flight 1006, all 199 passengers and 15 crew members on board landed safely.

They were then taken to the terminal for security screening. At the same time, authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the aircraft. The airline reassured passengers by stating, “Safety and security are our top priorities,” before thanking those affected for their patience.

Police conducted an extensive search, and the airline later confirmed that the aircraft had been “cleared to re-depart.” However, Indian authorities required an additional inspection before the flight could continue to New Delhi.

Due to crew rest regulations, the flight had to remain in Rome overnight before resuming travel the following day. Neeraj Chopra, a passenger on board, recalled the moment the captain announced a change in their “security status.”

Chopra noted that the announcement came about three hours before their expected arrival in New Delhi. According to him, the cabin atmosphere remained calm after the captain’s message.

However, when the captain informed them that fighter jets would escort them to Rome, the tension in the cabin increased. “I felt a little panic of, okay, what’s going on here?” Chopra recalled, adding, “There’s got to be like something bigger going on here.”

Jonathan Bacon, 22, from Dayton, Ohio, described focusing on the flight tracker in front of him. He watched as the plane veered sharply away from New Delhi, turning back toward Rome.

During most of the flight, they did not have a stable internet connection, leaving passengers in the dark about the situation. During brief moments of connectivity, some passengers caught glimpses of early reports, but nothing was clear before landing.

Bacon revealed that upon landing, passengers underwent lengthy security screenings inside the terminal. The passengers and their belongings were thoroughly checked. The heightened security procedures intensified the experience, especially for arriving travelers.

More than two hours later, Bacon and his friend were still at the airport waiting for their checked luggage. “It was definitely the longest flight to Europe I’ve ever taken,” he joked.

Operations at Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport remained unaffected and continued as usual despite the disruption. No further details about the source of the bomb threat have been released, and the incident remains under investigation.