An illustration of a fire evacuation on steps (not the AA 1006 flight)
Two air incidents occurred in succession, an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 737-800.
On March 12, a PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) Airbus A320 landed in Lahore from Karachi with one of its rear wheels mysteriously missing. A PIA spokesperson stated that the aircraft had departed Karachi with all its tyres intact. Preliminary findings suggest the wheel may have detached due to a collision with a foreign object on the runway. Despite this, the aircraft landed safely.
Aviation experts emphasize that the Airbus A320 is designed with redundancy, allowing it to land safely even with one of its two main wheels missing.
Then on the evening of March 14, passengers were forced to evacuate onto the wing of an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Denver International Airport after one of its engines caught fire while taxiing to the terminal.
American Airlines Flight 1006, en route from Colorado Springs to Dallas-Fort Worth with 172 passengers and six crew members, diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations. Upon landing, as the aircraft taxied to the gate, one engine caught fire.
Engine vibrations can arise from various causes, such as fan or compressor imbalance, which creates uneven forces in the rotating assembly, leading to noticeable shaking. Bearing problems may also increase friction and mechanical instability. Such engine vibration indications are typically displayed on the EICAS or cockpit instruments.
Pilots usually respond by reducing power, monitoring trends, or shutting down the affected engine if necessary to minimize fire risks from friction.
A similar incident occurred on June 25, 2017, when an Airbus A330 flying from Perth to Kuala Lumpur experienced severe vibrations, causing the aircraft to shake “like a washing machine.” The captain shut down the affected engine, declared an emergency, and safely returned to Perth.
Regarding American Airlines Flight 1006, Boeing 737-800 pilots have a checklist for engine vibrations, which stipulates a maximum limit of up to 4 units on the engine indicator. If the captain determines the vibration is not due to icing, the procedure suggests retarding the affected engine to the reduce vibration. A note in the checklist states: “If the vibration does not decrease when the thrust lever is retarded, check other engine indications. If other engine indications are normal, no further action is needed.”
Would shutting down the engine as a precaution have made a difference? The A330 in the 2017 incident did so and landed safely.
It remains unclear what caused the fire after Flight 1006 landed. A final investigation by the NTSB (National Transport Safety Board) may provide some answers.
View a YouTube video on American Airlines plane engine catches fire at Denver airport
here https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/13/us/video/american-airlines-boeing-fire-denver-src-digvid