American Airlines 737 Lands In Denver With Engine Trouble—Fire Erupts, 12 Hospitalized

by Gary Leff

American Airlines flight 1006 from Colorado Springs to Dallas – Fort Worth diverted to Denver due to abnormal engine vibrations during its climb out, “cruising slower than normal.”

When it landed and proceeded to gate C38 around 5 p.m., the right engine caught fire and thick black smoke surrounded the aircraft. Emergency slides were deployed and all 172 passengers and six crewmembers were evacuated from the full Boeing 737.

Initial reports indicated that no injuries occurred, however 12 passengers transported to area hospitals for minor treatment.

According to American Airlines,

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.

Air traffic control recordings reveal that even before landing, the pilot had communicated the engine issue as “not an emergency.” As the aircraft arrived, “Mayday” calls were transmitted confirming the engine fire. While it initially appeared that the engine problem was manageable, that turned out.. not to be the case.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. The flight was lucky with the fire occurring after landing and not during climbout. Still, once more numerous passengers do not follow instructions and take their carry-on bags with them during the evacuation.

  2. Great that the ground crew used a baggage ramp to get people off of the wing. Pulling a burning aircraft up to a jetway is not a good idea, IMO. I wonder if the fire started after the airplane was almost in place for deplaning. I also wonder if thrust reversers were deployed upon landing. Of course, the report will come months later.

  3. To @BrianKrassensteon, you provide the typical knee-jerk DemonRat response trying to blame this on the new administration. TSA has nothing to do with aircraft maintenance. And all actions by FAA appear to be exactly in line with ground control procedures. Probably an engine failure of some sort. Moron.
    EdSparks58

  4. Glad everyone is safe.

    When I saw this yesterday evening, I knew Gary would get to it eventually, and that the first comments would be folks (like @Ron) complaining about anyone who took their freakin’ bags. Of course it’s not advisable–literally, the safety video says to leave your junk behind. But unless you’ve actually been in an evacuation, you really don’t know what you’re talking about–each individual responds very differently to such shock and panic. We could do better as a society to better prepare passengers, but 1) we have had as many incidents until recently, and 2) we also don’t want to people out of flying. So, it’s a balancing act.

    I’m with @jns, glad the ground crew got creative, even though I imagine ‘liability policy’ would officially be to wait for the emergency crew–sometimes ‘on paper’ just isn’t the same as ‘in practice.’

    On who to blame, since @EdSparks58 went there (and others inevitably will), as with any incident, let’s not rush to judgment and please allow the investigators do their work. But no, definitively, this was not inherently ‘political’ at all–neither was the midair collision involving American Airlines Flight 5342. Yet, the day after that tragedy, the President blamed ‘DEI’ which was a vile and inappropriate–simply put, it was bad leadership. On his reaction to American Airlines flight 1006, Brian Krassenstein is a known partisan commentator, and his remark was relatively ‘tame’ by comparison–also, it is undeniable that there have been more incidents lately–but that doesn’t mean it’s because of policy–accidents do ‘just happen’ some times–it’s not always a nefarious plot or conspiracy. Probably, it was just a maintenance issue. I hope American can learn something, inform other operators, and prevent something like this from happen again.

  5. Pardon me, coffee hasn’t kicked in yet. 1) we have *not* had as many incidents until recently, and 2) we also don’t want to *scare* people out of flying. No need for ‘edit’ buttons, we’ll live.

  6. I’ll wager the injured were due to a slow down of the evacuation caused by the selfcentered idjits who ” had to” grab their luggage.

  7. @Edsparks. Your petty spite is showing. Rather than ” this is not a political party issue” you go full name calling. The lower intelligence signature of a maga. Grow up

  8. Still, once more numerous passengers do not follow instructions and take their carry-on bags with them during the evacuation.

    Prosecution for obstructing an evacuation is entirely appropriate and long overdue.

  10. @Andrew — Apparently, the 737 does not have self-inflating slides for its over-wing exits. Boeing. *sigh*

  12. @Mike Hunt — Oh no…now you’re against ‘free speech,’ too. Let OneTrippe know–that guy’s all about ‘muting’ and ‘banning’ those he disagrees with, on substance or methods. In all seriousness, you do you, engage or ignore. Gary doesn’t seem to mind those who wish to engage more frequently–of course, if he changes his mind, I respect his decision, as indeed, he is ‘god-like’ here as this is site. Not to get to meta here, but, after all, user engagement is probably beneficial to VFTW–more clicks, more views, perhaps a little extra ad revenue, maybe a few extra sign-up commissions, or not, whatever. I wish him, and you, all the best, either way. Now, do you have a point, on-topic? Or a silly name to call me? I’m always down to clown, good sir.

  13. I can’t believe that some assholes care so little for other people’s lives that they stop to grab their crap. If these selfish pustules on the anuses of society hadn’t done that then less people would have inhaled so much smoke with concurrently fewer hospitalizations.

    Should someone ever try that in my proximity they’re going to see a very large very angry 6″4″ guy pushing them aside to wait until everyone is evacuated and normal people’s lives are not in danger before retrieving their stuff. Human lives are more important than some selfish jerk’s belongings.

  14. Why was the engine not shut down before landing and the fire bottle activated??
    No fuel : No fire

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