American Airlines Plane Fire in Denver: Human Error and Malfunctioning Escape Slide

On March 2025, American Airlines Flight 1006 made an emergency landing at Denver International Airport due to an engine issue. Upon arrival, a fire erupted near the engine, prompting a rapid evacuation of the 172 passengers and crew. Luckily, the Denver fire department responded quickly, extinguishing the blaze in under a minute. However, the incident was far from smooth. One escape slide jammed, preventing the use of a cabin door and causing some passengers to evacuate via the wing. This resulted in twelve passengers suffering minor injuries. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report indicating that human error, specifically the improper installation of engine parts, was likely the cause of the fire. Passenger Helen Prager recounted the terrifying experience, stating, "Everyone was screaming, 'There's a fire!'" Former NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt emphasized the seriousness of the escape slide malfunction, stating, "And it did not deploy properly and it jammed the door, that's a problem." American Airlines stated that safety is its top priority and is cooperating fully with the NTSB investigation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous maintenance and safety protocols in aviation.