• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Passengers forced to escape onto wings as plane bursts into flames in terrifying scenes

Home> News> US News

Updated 08:41 14 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 08:39 14 Mar 2025 GMT

Passengers forced to escape onto wings as plane bursts into flames in terrifying scenes

With over 170 passengers on board, the plane burst into flames after landing

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

In terrifying scenes you might have seen in films or even in your nightmares, passengers were forced to escape onto the wings of a plane yesterday (13 March).

After a diversion, the plane landed at Denver Airport, Colorado, and burst into flames while taxiing on the tarmac.

The American Airlines flight had taken off from the nearby Colorado Springs and was supposed to be flying over to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas.

Advert

However, it was diverted to Denver at about 5.15pm local time after the crew reported vibrations coming from the engine. The plane, with 172 passengers and six crew members on board, then caught fire after landing.

The passengers could be seen huddling on the wing as smoke billowed (X/flynnstone)
The passengers could be seen huddling on the wing as smoke billowed (X/flynnstone)

The airline said everyone made it off the Boeing 737-800 aircraft safely, although it was later confirmed by the airport that 12 people were taken to hospital for minor injuries.

According to air traffic control audio from LiveATC.net, the pilot notified air traffic controllers in Denver shortly before landing that the flight was experiencing engine issues.

However, they said it was not an emergency.

Advert

The controller asked: “American 10,006, uh, 1006 just to verify not an emergency still, correct?”

And the pilot responded: “Nah, we just have a high engine vibration so we are cruising slower than normal.”

However, things seemed to escalate quickly as several minutes later, after landing, someone on the radio yelled: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! … engine fire!”

Footage taken by witness shows passengers evacuating the jet via the wing, as they stood huddled in a row as some held on to bags while flames burned near the bottom of the plane.

Advert

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said those on board used inflatable slides to safely reach the ground at the airport. The agency added that it would investigate the scary-looking incident.

An American Airlines Boeing 737-800. (Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800. (Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

A spokesperson for Denver International Airport said the fire had been put out and flight operations had continued as normal.

One witness from inside the terminal told Metro they had briefly stopped by the windows ‘and saw a flash of sudden fire, followed by a ton of smoke’.

“The fire was very brief and looked like it was extinguished pretty quickly by ground crews,” they added.

Advert

“The smoke continued for a while and that’s when we saw people starting to exit from the rear slides.”

Clips on social media show passengers walking on the edge of the wing while ground crew rush towards them with ladders.

LADbible has contacted American Airlines for comment.

Featured Image Credit: X/flynnstone

Topics: American Airlines , US News, Viral

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

15 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • 15 mins ago

    Where are we in search for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 as Brit sailor 'saw it in sky just before crash'

    Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 has been subject to the largest search in aviation history

    News
  • an hour ago

    Heart surgeon explains why he doesn’t use common bathroom product due to serious cardiac risk

    According to one doctor, there's a specific product that carries a significant health risk

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Former British Army colonel explains real tactics an 'angry' Putin is likely to use on the West

    Colonel Richard Kemp, the head of armed forces during the war in Afghanistan, has revealed what Vladimir Putin might do next

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Donald Trump makes feelings on Elon Musk clear with brutal comment and social media reposts

    The US President and his former pal's public fallout is continuing to unfold online

    News
  • Major issue Black Hawk pilot may have experienced before crashing into plane leaving 67 dead
  • Pilot made two deadly mistakes before US Army helicopter crashed into plane and killed 67 people, new report claims
  • Plane was forced to re-direct in near-miss with helicopter at same airport one day before American Airlines crash
  • Dad of pilot who flew American Airlines plane that crashed has demanded an answer after 'worst day of his life’