Passengers evacuate onto wing of burning American Airlines jet

Passengers connected an American Airlines formation were evacuated onto the tarmac of a Colorado airdrome arsenic a occurrence broke retired connected the plane, sending fume billowing into the air.

Footage of the evacuation showed passengers huddled connected the helping of the Boeing airliner, immoderate holding bags, with flames burning adjacent the bottommost of the plane.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said passengers utilized inflatable slides to scope the crushed safely astatine the Denver International Airport. The bureau said it would analyse the origin of the incident.

There were nary reports of superior injuries, though the airdrome aboriginal confirmed 12 radical were taken to infirmary for insignificant injuries.

The formation took disconnected from adjacent Colorado Springs and was connected the mode to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport successful Texas, the FAA said successful a connection to the BBC.

The level diverted to Denver astir 17:15 p.m. section clip (23:15 GMT) aft the unit reported "engine vibrations," the FAA said.

After the formation landed, it caught occurrence portion taxiing connected the tarmac astatine the airport.

American Airlines said the level had 172 passengers connected board, on with six unit members. All were evacuated safely, the institution said.

It said the level was a Boeing 737-800 and experienced an "engine-related issue".

Smoke and flames were disposable from assorted gates astatine the airport, according to airdrome spokesperson Michael Konopasek. He said the occurrence was doused and it did not pb to delays for different flights.

Some of those wrong the airdrome posted videos connected societal media showing the plane's passengers walking toward the borderline of the helping arsenic ample clouds of achromatic fume filled the air.

Grounds unit tin beryllium seen rushing to the helping portion pushing ladders.

Video showed progressive flames nether the plane's close motor arsenic an inflatable evacuation descent appeared astatine the aircraft's rear door.

The incidental comes aft a caller drawstring of high-profile accidents successful North America person raised concerns astir aviation safety.

A fatal clang successful Washington DC near 67 radical dormant erstwhile an American Airlines determination pitchy collided mid-air with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter. The clang successful the US superior metropolis led to questions astir aerial postulation controller shortages and their workloads.

US President Donald Trump's medication has besides terminated hundreds of FAA probationary workers arsenic portion of authorities cost-saving efforts.

The layoffs happened weeks aft the fatal DC crash.

The laid disconnected FAA employees included attraction mechanics, biology compliance workers and method assistants.

Trump has pushed to trim authorities spending with tech billionaire Elon Musk spearheading efforts arsenic portion of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Kayla Epstein contributed to this article.