12 Injured In American Airlines Incident At Denver International

American Airlines flight 1006 experienced a serious issue while on the ground at Denver International Airport yesterday, March 13.

The flight departed the Springs at 4:37 PM and was not long in the air before it experienced an "engine related issue" according to American Airlines.

It was diverted to Denver International Airport after crew on board said they experienced engine vibrations. With 172 passengers on board, plus six crew members, the plane landed safely in Denver after 5 PM.

As the flight was taxiing to the gate - C38 on the C concourse - a fire flared up. Evacuation slides were deployed and the passengers were seen exiting the aircraft onto the wings amidst heavy smoke billowing out from underneath the plane.

Fire crews at DIA were quick to extinguish the fire, but 12 passengers were injured during the incident and subsequent evacuation, requiring hospitalization.

Passengers reported smelling "burning plastic" as soon as the plane landed, which led to panic on board the aircraft with people screaming and saying there was a fire, in what no doubt were some tense moments as the plane taxied its way to the C concourse.

In the end, passengers were grateful the fire occurred on the ground and not in the air, and the cause of the fire is under investigation. Multiple aviation experts reported seeing the flames on the ground under the plane, rather than coming from the plane itself, so it begs the question of whether or not the plane caught fire or some parts or fluid that fell from the plane were the cause.