DENVER (KDVR) — A Texas man is suing American Airlines, alleging the airline's negligence led to an aircraft fire on March 13 and caused him to be transported to a local emergency department. The fire occurred at Denver International Airport when an aircraft that took off from the Colorado Spri ngs airport was diverted from its original destination of Dallas Fort Worth airport. Pilots told air traffic controllers that they were sensing high engine vibrations and the plane was cruising "slower than normal." Over 170 people on the plane used emergency slides to evacuate the aircraft. 2nd detainee who escaped ICE facility in Aurora arrested: US Marshals Service The lawsuit alleges that the plane's crew denied assistance from Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicles, and after landing, taxiied for about eight minutes toward gate C38. The lawsuit says this is when the jet engine caught fire. That prompted the first emergency calls to air traffic control, according to the complaint, with crew members calling "Mayday, mayday! Engine fire!" The passenger alleges in his lawsuit that when the plane came to a stop, that's when passengers began to see flames and smoke outside their windows. He said that before that, passengers were unaware of the fire. "Smoke began to fill the cabin and passengers began screaming, pushing, and jumping in an attempt to escape the burning aircraft," the lawsuit complaint states. A separate passenger on the airplane told FOX31's Vicente Arenas that there was an announcement made about engine vibrations, causing the plane to divert to Denver. She said that while the plane was in the air, she did not see any fire, and didn't know there was potential for a life-threatening problem until the plane came to a stop. Parker mother prayed over child thrown from car hit by drunk driver "It was just a mess. No one realized the plane was on fire from the wing forward, so they were just getting their luggage like a normal exiting of a plane. When my window started melting, I started screaming, ‘The plane is on fire! Get off the plane!’” Watson told Arenas. An American Airlines flight was on fire at DIA on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Courtesy Erik Moon)An American Airlines flight was on fire at DIA on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Courtesy Erik Moon) The complaint says that this is when the passenger who filed the lawsuit was able to make his way "through the chaos" and exited the aircraft by sliding down an emergency evacuation slide. He said that during this exit, he inhaled "copious" amounts of smoke and fire retardant. He was one of 12 people who were transported to hospitals for minor injuries, according to DIA. The lawsuit says the airline was negligent in a number of areas that led to the fire, including: Did not use reasonable care in operating the aircraft Did not return to Colorado Springs as opposed to diverting to DIA Did not follow FAA-approved standard operating procedures Failed to request timely emergency assistance Failed to evacuate passengers away from the burning engine The lawsuit also alleges that American Airlines failed to properly train its employees on maintaining and operating the aircraft, and then failed to monitor the employees to ensure they followed proper procedures, including emergency exit procedures. The passenger is looking for a jury trial in the matter. FOX31 has reached out to American Airlines for comment on the litigation. ...read more read less