DENVER, Colo. (WFLA) — A terrifying scene unfolded as an American Airlines flight erupted in flames after landing in Denver.

A Tampa Bay woman who was on board American Airlines flight 1006 from Colorado Springs to Dallas described the chaos, fear and the desperate fight to escape.

“I was extremely nervous and scared, and I really thought that the plane was going to blow up and we were going to die,” passenger Marisol Cohen said.
Cohen said the plane was already in the air when the flight attendant made an alarming announcement.
“We were having some rattling in the engine,” Cohen said. “So they were going to divert the flight to Denver so that they can get a new plane or fix the rattling.”
But as soon as the plane touched down, chaos erupted.

“Someone in the plane screamed fire, which was the worst thing that could have happened because everybody lost control,” Cohen said.

In seconds, thick smoke-filled cabin.

“We’re trapped there as we see the flames just billowing and the windows are melting, we’re trapped,” Cohen recalled.

Many passengers scrambled to the emergency exit, but Cohen felt some seated in that row weren’t prepared to act.
“The regulations that they have to sit an emergency exit, I think we really need to rethink that,” she said.
Cohen said flight attendants did their best for the back and front of the plane. But in the middle, where she was, people were stuck. She managed to get to the wing, then a stranger on the ground offered to help.

“It was a tall gentleman that just looked up at us and said, ‘Jump, I got you,’ and we jumped,” Cohen said.
American Airlines issued the following statement on the incident:

After landing safely and taxiing to the gate at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines Flight 1006 experienced an engine-related issue. The 172 customers and six crew members deplaned and are being relocated to the terminal. We thank our crew members, DEN team and first responders for their quick and decisive action with the safety of everyone on board and on the ground as the priority.

American Airlines

Cohen suffered a minor cut while jumping from the wing, but she said the emotional scars from this flight will last much longer.

She hopes this experience leads to changes in emergency procedures, especially for those seated in emergency exit rows.