DENVER, COLORADO – An American Airlines flight preparing for departure from Denver International Airport (DIA) was forced to conduct an emergency evacuation on the taxiway early Monday morning after smoke was detected inside the aircraft.
The incident involved American Airlines Flight 1827, an Airbus A321 scheduled for service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The aircraft was reportedly taxiing towards the runway for takeoff when the flight crew and passengers noticed smoke beginning to appear in the cabin.
Following standard safety protocols, the captain immediately halted the aircraft and gave the command to evacuate. Emergency slides were deployed, and all 178 passengers and 6 crew members exited the plane onto the taxiway.
Airport emergency services, including fire and rescue teams, responded within minutes, surrounding the aircraft to assess the situation and assist the passengers. Videos and photos posted by passengers on social media show the deployed slides and travelers gathered on the tarmac at a safe distance from the plane.
"It all happened very quickly," said one passenger in a post online. "We were getting ready for takeoff, and then you could smell something like burning plastic. The flight attendants were very professional and started shouting 'Evacuate, evacuate!' It was startling, but everyone got off safely."
A few minor injuries, mostly scrapes and sprains consistent with using emergency slides, were reported. Passengers were transported by bus back to the terminal.
In a statement, American Airlines confirmed the incident: "American Airlines Flight 1827 from Denver to Chicago was evacuated prior to takeoff due to a report of smoke in the cabin. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we are grateful to our flight crew and the first responders at DIA for their professionalism. We are working to get our customers to their destinations as quickly as possible."
The incident caused some temporary delays and taxiway closures at the busy airport, but operations have largely returned to normal.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will conduct a full investigation to determine the source and cause of the smoke. The aircraft has been taken out of service for a thorough maintenance inspection.