Plane of American Airlines, which ignited in Denver, found with improperly fitted and unsecured components, according to NTSB record.
Scoop: Potential Maintenance Blunder Could've Ignited American Airlines Plane Fire
In a shocking turn of events, a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report suggests that a horror-filled emergency landing at Denver International Airport in March, involving an American Airlines plane, may have been caused by slipshod maintenance work.
Surveillance footage revealed a trail of fluid streaming from the plane as it taxied upon its diversion to Denver due to an engine issue. Upon checking the engine, investigators found some parts were loose and incorrectly installed. A fitting, in particular, allowed fuel to seep out, potentially igniting the inferno.
“The preliminary findings point towards a maintenance mishap that could've sparked this fire. We need to pinpoint exactly where this error originated to prevent a recurrence,” says former NTSB head, Robert Sumwalt, our News transportation safety expert.
Adrenaline-Fueled Escape
The NTSB disclosed that ground crews in Denver managed to extinguish the blaze in less than a minute. The post-incident pandemonium inside the cabin, on a flight bound for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, painted a chaotic picture.
“Everyone was screaming, ‘There's a fire. There's a fire,’” passenger Helen Prager recounted. “I was screaming, ‘Open the doors’ at the gate itself.”
Initially, attempts to contact the pilots via the flight attendant were unsuccessful. Another flight attendant alerted the pilots by knocking on the cockpit door about the fire and the thickening smoke within. Panicking passengers had begun escaping onto the plane's wing, but a jam in the escape slide stymied the use of the cabin doors.
“A jammed escape slide is a problem,” Sumwalt admitted. “The NTSB will delve deeper - Was it a factory defect, or a maintenance-induced issue?”
Twelve individuals were hospitalized with minor wounds following the fire, and the plane initiated its journey from Colorado Springs. American Airlines, in a statement to our News, reaffirmed its commitment to passenger and crew safety, expressing cooperation with the NTSB investigation.
Aviation Mishaps in 2025
The plane fire in Denver isn't an isolated occurrence in the aviation sector this year.
A horrifying mid-air collision in January involving an American Airlines plane and a Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport resulted in disastrous consequences. The regional jet, on its way from Wichita, Kansas, and the three soldiers inside the helicopter all perished[4].
In February, a Delta Air Lines regional jet crash-landed at Toronto International Airport, flipping upside down. Although 21 passengers suffered injuries, everyone managed to escape the wreckage[4].
A close call at Reagan National Airport in April involved Members of Congress on board a plane grounded by another aircraft's collision. Fortunately, no injuries were reported[4].
A series of outages at the Philadelphia air traffic control center has also come to light, affecting flights operated from Newark Airport since April. Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to revamp the system[4].
In contrast to these high-profile incidents, a recent analysis by our News based on NTSB and Bureau of Travel Statistics data revealed that only 0.02% of domestic flights were involved in accidents in 2024[4].
- NTSB
- Federal Aviation Administration
- American Airlines
- Denver
- Airlines
Kris Van CleaveEmmy Award-winning journalist Kris Van Cleave serves as our News' senior transportation correspondent, based in Phoenix, Arizona. He reports for all our News broadcasts and platforms, further solidifying his reputation as a dedicated and seasoned journalist.
[1] Enrichment Data: NTSB preliminary report: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/briefing_room.asp?even=08-0321[2] Enrichment Data: American Airlines Plane Emergency Landing at Denver International Airport: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-airlines-plane-emergency-landing-at-denver-international-airport/[3] Enrichment Data: American Airlines Flight 2305 denied Air Emergency Declaration despite emergency vehicle response: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/american-airlines-flight-2305-denied-air-emergency-declaration-despite-emergency-vehicle-response-n866776[4] Enrichment Data: 2025 Aviation Incidents: https://www.ournews.com/aviation-incidents-2025/[5] Enrichment Data: American Airlines and the NTSB: http://www.cnn.com/travel/article/american-airlines-ntsb-investigation/index.html
- The investigation into the American Airlines plane fire reveals a possible maintenance mistake as the preliminary cause, with the NTSB aiming to identify the exact origin to prevent future incidents.
- The Denver incident, part of a series of aviation mishaps in 2025, has drawn attention to maintenance standards and their role in aircraft safety.
- American Airlines, a key player in the transportation industry, faces increased scrutiny following this high-profile incident and is cooperating with the NTSB investigation to uphold passenger and crew safety.
