FORT WORTH- Sixteen passengers have filed a lawsuit against American Airlines (AA) after a Boeing 737 engine caught fire at Denver International Airport (DEN).
The aircraft was operating flight AA1006 from Colorado Springs (COS) to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) when it diverted due to engine trouble.
The March 13, 2025, incident forced an emergency evacuation after landing. Passengers allege the airline acted negligently in maintenance, flight handling, and evacuation procedures, placing lives at risk.
Photo: By Fabrizio Gandolfo – https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8100832, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43525690American Airlines 737 Engine Fire Lawsuit
The 14 page lawsuit, filed in Colorado district court, describes the moments leading up to the incident.
According to passengers, the pilots were alerted to an exhaust gas temperature warning in the right hand engine before takeoff from Colorado Springs but chose to continue the flight.
Shortly after departure, the crew detected abnormal vibrations and stopped their climb at 16,000 feet. Rather than return to Colorado Springs, the pilots diverted to Denver.
Court filings claim the crew did not declare an emergency and rejected air traffic control’s offer to have fire services meet the plane on arrival. Instead, they taxied unescorted for eight minutes after landing.
During that time, fluid leaked from the right engine. As the aircraft reached its assigned gate, the engine erupted in flames, sending thick black smoke billowing around the fuselage.
Passengers describe chaos inside the cabin when the fire broke out. According to the complaint: “After coming to a stop, panic ensued inside the cabin as the unaware passengers of flight 1006 noticed flames and smoke outside their windows.”
Flight attendants tried to reach the pilots by phone and by knocking on the cockpit door but received no response. With smoke filling the cabin, they initiated an evacuation without cockpit approval.
The lawsuit details how passengers screamed, pushed, and jumped in desperation. A rear left hand emergency slide failed to deploy, forcing many to exit through doors near the fire.
Some evacuated onto the wings, only to realize the drop to the ground was too high for a safe jump. Six passengers were transported to hospitals with injuries from the evacuation.
Among the 16 plaintiffs are two children and a pregnant woman. Their lawyers argue the pilots mishandled the emergency and exposed passengers to unnecessary danger by failing to stop on the runway or request fire crews.
Reported by PYOK, the filing accuses the airline of gross negligence and “outrageous conduct.”
Photo: Cado PhotoNTSB Investigation Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report in June 2025 identifying several maintenance issues that may have caused the fire:
- A retaining wire in the fuel connection was installed incorrectly.
- A variable stator vane actuator was not properly attached, allowing potential fuel leaks.
- An engine drain pipe was clogged with glue like sealant.
Investigators concluded that these mechanical faults likely triggered the abnormal vibrations and eventual fire. The findings reinforced claims that the plane should not have taken off from Colorado Springs.
Photo: Andrew E. Cohen | FlickrCompensation and Court Proceedings
The lawsuit does not request a specific compensation figure but seeks full damages permitted under Colorado law.
This includes economic and non-economic losses, medical costs, emotional distress, and physical impairment or disfigurement. The plaintiffs also request interest, legal costs, and any further relief the court finds appropriate.
A scheduling conference is currently set for November 3, 2025, where the court will outline the next steps.
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The post American Airlines 16 Passenger Filed Lawsuit Over Boeing 737 Engine Fire appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
