On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video showed a plane bursting into flames at Denver International Airport, forcing passengers to stand on the wing as they evacuated.
A plane caught fire at Denver International Airport, forcing passengers to evacuate onto the wings.
The incident has reignited concerns about aviation safety in the United States.
Growing fears over aviation safety in 2025
Since President Donald Trump took office on January 20, aviation incidents have increased. Several major accidents have raised alarm.
– 67 people died when an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter.
– Bering Air Flight 445 crashed after disappearing from radar.
– Delta Connection Flight 4819 landed upside down in Toronto. Thankfully, there were no casualties.
Many critics blame recent budget cuts. The President, however, attributes the rise in accidents to diversity hires in air traffic control.
Passengers forced to evacuate onto the wings
On the X platform, a user named @flynnstone shared a video showing passengers forced to evacuate onto the wings after a plane burst into flames at Denver International Airport.
The video has the caption: “American Airlines flight 4012 just caught fire at Denver airport.”
Footage from the latest incident shows passengers standing on the wings of a Boeing 737-800.
The Texas-bound flight caught fire midair, prompting an emergency landing.
American Airlines Flight 1006 departed from Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the crew detected ‘engine vibrations’ mid-flight.
The plane safely diverted to Denver International Airport at 5:15 PM local time. Viral videos show smoke and flames pouring from an engine as 172 passengers and six crew members evacuated.
Social media reactions
The video quickly went viral and sparked mixed outrage on social media.
In the comment section, many viewers expressed their outrage over the decline of the aviation industry, while others also voiced concerns about growing aviation safety issues.
Additoinally, many people blame recent budget cuts and layoffs in the airline industry.
One person said: I swear there is something nefarious going on with planes and airports.
A second wrote: Emblematic of the entire trump era.
While a third: Bring back the nice passenger trains with dining cars and lounges.face-blue-wide-eyes.
Another added: How many red flags is this? What in the world of airplanes is going on in 2025!
Someone else said: Wow, who would have thought that cutting funding for air traffic control and laying off safety inspectors could lead to problems?
Why evacuate from the wing? It’s not water ditching. What if the engine explosion? Another user added
Donald Trump laid off thousands of aviation workers, and now we have the worst aviation industry in American history. Someone said.
Injuries reported and investigation underway
Airport officials confirmed all passengers were safely evacuated. However, 12 people sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital.
The FAA has launched an investigation. Flight-tracking data reveals the aircraft was 13 years old at the time of the incident.
A spokesperson from Denver International Airport confirmed the fire was extinguished. Flight operations resumed shortly after the incident.
“We thank our crew members, DEN team, and first responders for their quick and decisive action. Safety remains the priority”.