On a wing and prayer ...aeroplane fire drama

TERRIFIED passengers flee on to a wing of their plane as flames threaten to engulf it seconds after landing.

- By James Knuckey

The American Airlines Boeing 737-800 with 178 people aboard was travelling from Colorado Springs to Dallas when it was diverted to Denver after the crew reported engine vibrations.

The jet landed safely in the Colorado capital — then caught fire while taxiing to a halt.

Footage and photos taken by shocked onlookers in the terminal showed an eruption of flames as black smoke billowed into the air, and later images revealed burn marks along the right of the fuselage as well as damage to an engine.

US aviation officials said that none of the 172 passengers and six crew suffered serious injuries as they used the jet’s emergency slides and embarkment stairways rushed over by ground staff to escape the blaze.