Panic gripped Denver International Airport on Monday when an American Airlines plane carrying 179 passengers and crew caught fire moments before takeoff, sending thick plumes of black smoke billowing across the runway.
The dramatic incident unfolded as Flight AA-1007 was taxiing for departure to Dallas-Fort Worth when airport emergency teams received a mayday call from the cockpit, reporting flames and smoke emanating from the left engine.
Videos from the scene showed terrified passengers scrambling down emergency slides as fire crews rushed to douse the blaze. Fortunately, airport officials confirmed that all 179 people onboard were safely evacuated, with only minor injuries reported during the chaotic escape.
“It could have been catastrophic,” one shaken passenger told reporters. “There was smoke, heat, and screaming. We were just praying to get out alive.”
American Airlines has since grounded the aircraft, a Boeing 737, and launched an investigation alongside the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of the fire.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended, with several inbound flights diverted and departures delayed. Denver International has since resumed normal operations.
The airline released a statement expressing gratitude for the swift action of the crew and emergency responders, vowing full transparency in the ongoing probe.
This incident marks yet another alarming scare in U.S. aviation, raising fresh questions about aircraft maintenance and passenger safety as summer travel peaks.
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