A dramatic scene unfolded at Denver International Airport (DEN) on Thursday when an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 caught fire while parked at gate C38. The incident prompted an immediate evacuation of passengers, though it remains unclear whether any injuries were reported.
Video footage from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the aircraft, with passengers standing on the wing after evacuating. The fire appeared to have been quickly brought under control by emergency responders.
According to Denver 7, the aircraft was operating as American Airlines Flight 1006 (AAL1006), which was scheduled to travel to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). There were 172 passengers and six crew members on board at the time of the incident. Fortunately, all individuals safely evacuated and were relocated to the terminal.
According to Simple Flying, American Airlines attributed the fire to an engine-related issue:
“After landing safely and taxiing to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines Flight 1006 experienced an engine-related issue. The 172 customers and six crew members deplaned and are being relocated to the terminal. 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.”
Aviation watchdog JonNYC reported that one of the pilots noted experiencing high engine vibrations before the fire. Data from Flightradar24 indicates that the flight originally departed from Colorado Springs Airport (COS) but diverted to Denver for reasons that remain unclear. The exact moment the fire ignited has not yet been confirmed.
The aircraft involved in the incident is registered as N885NN, a 13-year-old Boeing 737-800, according to ch-aviation.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire and assess any potential damage to the aircraft.
Youssef Yahya is the CEO and Founder of Aviation for Aviators, a platform dedicated to the aviation industry. With over 3 years of experience as an aviation writer, Youssef is passionate about sharing his insights on aviation, entrepreneurship, and the broader business landscape. As a Teaching Assistant in Entrepreneurship at Nile University, he also nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs. When he’s not exploring the skies or business ventures, you can find him saying, ‘Drag your coffee, and let’s talk aviation, entrepreneurship, and football.’
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