An American Airlines flight traveling from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth was forced to make an emergency diversion shortly after takeoff on Thursday evening. The flight made an unexpected landing at Denver where one of the plane’s engines caught fire on the ground.

Passengers were quickly evacuated, some of them using the wing and emergency slides, running to safety amidst heavy smoke and flames.

Out of the 172 passengers and six crew members on board, all survived with 12 people receiving treatment in the hospital for minor injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced it will be investigating the incident.

Videos on social media showed passengers standing on the plane’s wing as smoke billowed out from the engine. American Airlines confirmed that the plane had landed safely after an “engine-related issue” was reported.

The pilot had previously notified air traffic control of an engine issue, albeit non-emergency. However, minutes later, the situation escalated with a distress call of an engine fire.

In its statement, the Federal Aviation Administration mentioned that after the plane’s safe diversion to Denver International Airport, the engine caught fire while the plane was taxiing to the gate, prompting passengers to evacuate via the slides.

Replacement arrangements were quickly made to take the remaining passengers to Dallas early the next morning.

American Airlines praised the swift response of the crew and first responders in ensuring the safety of those on board and the public.

A passenger later recounted the incident, noting that as soon as the plane landed, a strong smell of burning plastic was detected, sparking panic.

The FAA declared an investigation into this incident, especially in light of the recent series of aviation issues, including a midair collision that occurred on January 29th near Washington, DC, killing 67 people.

The series of incidents reflect growing concerns, including a Delta Air Lines plane crash in Toronto, a near miss at Chicago Midway Airport involving a Southwest Airlines flight, and a Japan Airlines plane striking a Delta Air Lines plane in Seattle.