Concerns over the state of American aviation continue to grow following a recent incident at Denver International Airport, where a plane caught fire, forcing passengers to evacuate by standing on the wings.
The rise in aviation disasters since President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20 has raised alarm. In addition to the tragic crash of American Airlines Flight 445, which collided with a Black Hawk helicopter, there have been numerous other incidents, including the disappearance of Bering Air Flight 445 and Delta Connection Flight 4819’s upside-down landing in Toronto. While there were no fatalities in the Delta crash, criticism of the President’s handling of aviation safety has intensified. Some point to the recent DOGE budget cuts, while Trump himself has suggested that the increase in accidents is tied to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hires at air traffic control.
It seems like barely a week passes without another aviation incident, and this latest one has only fueled concerns. Footage from a recent flight shows passengers evacuating a Boeing 737-800, bound for Texas, as flames erupted from one of its engines.
The plane, American Airlines Flight 1006, was en route from Colorado Springs to Dallas Fort Worth when the crew reported “engine vibrations” to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Though the plane managed to land safely at Denver International Airport around 5:15 p.m. local time, viral social media posts showed smoke and flames coming from one of its engines while some of the 172 passengers and six crew members stood on the wing.
American Airlines plane catches on fire at Denver airport.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 14, 2025
Denver International Airport confirmed that while all passengers were evacuated safely, 12 people were treated for “minor” injuries. Flight tracking revealed the plane was 13 years old, and the FAA has launched a full investigation into the incident.
One concerned social media user pointed out: “Who would have thought that cutting funding for air traffic control and laying off safety inspectors could lead to problems? What a shocking development!” Another user remarked: “How many red flags are there? What’s going on with planes in 2025?”
Blame was also directed at former President Trump, with one person writing: “Trump laid off thousands of aviation workers, and now we have the worst aviation industry in American history.”
A spokesperson from Denver International confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and normal operations had resumed: “We thank our crew members, DEN [airport] team, and first responders for their quick and decisive action to prioritize the safety of everyone on board and on the ground.”
Following the crash of a small plane near a Pennsylvania retirement village on March 10, a reporter asked President Trump if Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had “legitimate concern” about the 400 FAA workers laid off in February. Trump dismissed the connection, stating: “That was a small plane, and that would have happened whether he had a big department or a small department. Sometimes there are periods with more incidents, but then things settle down, and you go years without any problems.”
Even if these incidents are coincidental, the increasing number of aviation disasters has led to widespread concern, with many pointing fingers at the handling of aviation safety and staffing.
