Viral Video: American Airlines plane carrying 172 passengers catches fire

A fire on an American Airlines flight created a dramatic scene at Denver International Airport on Thursday. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, carrying 172 passengers and six crew members en route to Dallas, encountered an engine malfunction shortly after taking off from Colorado Springs and had to be diverted to Denver.

Thankfully, the fire mishap did not occur when the flight was in the air. Upon its landing at Denver, the passengers and crew were evacuated safely, with no reported injuries. Videos showing the flames from the aircraft quickly spread on social media, drawing widespread attention.

BREAKING: An American Airlines plane caught fire at Denver International Airport forcing passengers running.

Why does it seem like airline safety is plummeting under Trump? Maybe it’s because he’s making cuts to airline safety? pic.twitter.com/en9sK1hHuJ

— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 14, 2025

Social Media Reaction:

The video has sparked a debate on the rise in airline safety plummeting in recent years.

“As a former flight attendant, I believe the problem is this: despite government oversight, many carriers lag in maintenance. With the Trump administration reducing FAA oversight, we’ll see more maintenance, taxiway, runway, and mid-air failures. Even if one airline improves upkeep, it requires all airlines’ cooperation—hard without federal oversight,” shared a user.

Likewise, another user shared, “The problem is years in the making. There have been many people raising the alarm.”

“There is a root cause to each of these incidents. I'm sure the quality control teams are on top of it. Unless they are addicted to porn or candy crush,” shared another user.

Official Statement: 

American Airlines released a statement addressing the incident. It explained that the fire resulted from an engine issue occurring after the plane had landed and taxied to a gate at Denver International Airport (DEN). The statement read, “The 172 customers and six crew members deplaned and are being relocated to the terminal.”