American Airlines plane reports issue moments before it catches fire at Denver International Airport as passengers evacuate onto wings of aircraft

An American Airlines plane reported an issue moments before it caught fire, as shocking footage shows passengers hurrying onto the aircraft’s wings. See the video.

Terrified witnesses watched on as an American Airlines plane touching down on the tarmac at Denver International Airport suddenly burst into flames on Thursday night (Friday AEDT).

Passengers were forced to evacuate the aircraft which was parked at Gate C38, as plumes of thick black smoke rose above the tarmac, airport officials told KDVR.

Passengers were forced to evacuate onto the wings of an American Airlines plane after it burst into flames at Denver International Airport. Picture: AFP/Branden Williams

Kristal Leonard told CNN she was waiting inside the Denver International Airport for her connecting flight to Colorado Springs when she looked outside and saw flames and smoke engulfing the plane.

“I was terrified for those passengers,” she said.

“I can’t even imagine how scared they must’ve been.”

An American Airlines plane suddenly burst into flames at Denver International Airport — forcing passengers to evacuate the aircraft. Picture: X

The Texas-bound Boeing 737-800 was rerouted to the airport shortly after taking off from Colorado Springs when crew members reported engine vibrations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

American Airlines Flight 1006, carrying 172 passengers and six crew members, touched down in Denver around 5:15pm local time, and the plane’s engine caught fire as it was taxiing on the tarmac, the FAA and airline said.

“After landing and while taxiing to the gate an engine caught fire,” the statement said. The FAA is investigating.

Twelve passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries, Denver Fire Department told CNN.

“Passengers were evacuated and the slides were deployed,” the airport said

The Colorado airport said the fire was extinguished and no injuries were reported, the outlet reported.

Videos shared on social media shows flames and smoke consuming the aircraft as airport crews worked to extinguish the frightening blaze.

Another video from inside the airport also showed passengers standing on the wing of the aircraft as smoke billowed.

Plumes of smoke can be seen billowing from an American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport. Picture: X

An American Airlines plane suddenly burst into flames at Denver International Airport. Picture: X

It comes after a spate of aircraft-related issues, including runway collisions and the horrifying moment a Delta Air Lines plane flipped on a runway in Toronto, burst into flames with 21 passengers injured.

This story was originally published on the New York Post.

Originally published as American Airlines plane reports issue moments before it catches fire at Denver International Airport as passengers evacuate onto wings of aircraft