Flight on wings

Plane goes up in flames after emergency landing

After the plane made an emergency landing, passengers fled to the wings to get to safety.

(Bild: BRANDEN WILLIAMS)

In Denver, Colorado, the engine of an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 burst into flames after a successful emergency landing. Passengers and crew had to flee via the wings and twelve people were slightly injured.

Big shock for 172 passengers and six crew members of American Airlines on Thursday. Engine vibrations and engine problems forced the pilots of the plane, which was on its way from Colorado Springs to Dallas, to make an emergency landing in Denver in the early evening. This was successful at around 5.15 p.m. local time.

But then one of the plane's engines caught fire. Passengers fled to the wings of the plane and were evacuated using slides. Pictures show thick clouds of smoke and open fire.

"172 passengers and six crew members have left the aircraft and are being taken to the terminal," the KDVR radio station quoted a statement from American Airlines. 

172 passengers and six crew members got off lightly.

(Bild: KameraOne)

Twelve people had to be taken to hospital after the landing, while numerous emergency services were still working at the airport to extinguish the fire.

After the plane made an emergency landing, passengers fled to the wings to get to safety.

(Bild: BRANDEN WILLIAMS)

Airport: "Incident"
While the flames were still blazing at Gate C38, operations at Denver International Airport continued as "normal". The airport succinctly described the incident as an "incident".