A passenger jet with 178 people on board has caught fire after developing an engine fault and being forced to divert to Denver.
The American Airlines flight 1006, on a Boeing 737-800, was travelling from Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth when the crew reported engine vibrations, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The aircraft diverted to Denver, Colorado and landed safely around 5.15pm (23.15pm UK time).
Images on social media show flames and smoke pouring from one of the engines, along with passengers standing on one of the wings.
Some passengers left the plane via the wing. Pic: flynnstone/X
The FAA said it would investigate the engine fire, which happened after the aircraft landed at Denver and was taxiing to the gate.
American Airlines said all 172 passengers and six crew on board had been able to exit the plane. Denver International Airport confirmed on X that 12 people were taken to hospital for minor injuries.
The plane is 13 years old, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24 and is equipped with two CFM56 engines manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture between GE and Safran.
American Airlines said the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate when it experienced an “engine-related issue”.
Scorch marks and engine damage is visible following the fire. Pic: just4kicks565/TikTok
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A spokesperson at Denver International Airport said the fire had been extinguished and flights had resumed.
“We thank our crew members, DEN [the airport] team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority,” American Airlines said.
There have been a series of recent high-profile aviation incidents which have raised questions about US aviation safety.
They include the mid-air collision of an American Airlines regional jet and an army helicopter on 29 January that killed 67 people near Washington DC’s Ronald Reagan Airport.
Last month, a Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Canada’s Toronto Pearson Airport, during windy weather. Of the 80 people on board, 18 were injured.
On Tuesday, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom and Delta CEO Ed Bastian said recent air crashes and weather events were contributing factors to falling US travel demand, alongside mounting economic uncertainty.
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