In Denver, an American Airlines plane catches fire on the tarmac, hospitalizing twelve people

At Denver International Airport, an American Airlines aircraft caught fire on the tarmac, forcing passengers to flee.

On Thursday, a fire broke out on an American Airlines flight, shooting smoke skyward, forcing the evacuation of the aircraft on the tarmac at Denver International Airport.

As flames could be seen close to the bottom of the Boeing 737-800, footage of the evacuation showed passengers on the wing, some clutching their bags. In order to safely reach the ground, passengers utilized inflatable slides, according to confirmation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Originally departing from Colorado Springs, the flight, with 172 passengers and six crew members, was headed to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The crew reported “engine vibrations,” which prompted the FAA to reroute the flight to Denver.

The airliner caught fire while taxiing on the tarmac after landing in Denver at approximately 17:15 local time. Thankfully, there were no reported catastrophic injuries, although 12 people were admitted to the hospital with minor wounds.

American Airlines guaranteed that every passenger had been safely evacuated and stated that the fire was caused by a “engine-related issue.” Emergency personnel quickly put out the fire, so it didn’t interfere with any other planes at the airport.

This incident comes after a string of alarming North American aviation incidents, such as a deadly mid-air collision in Washington, DC, which sparked concerns about the workload and staffing constraints of air traffic controllers.

The event also coincides with the Trump administration’s attempts to cut government spending, which resulted in the firing of hundreds of FAA probationary employees, including technical assistants and maintenance mechanics.