American Airlines Passenger Recounts ‘Terrifying’ Escape from Burning Plane: ‘I Was Shaking’

What should have been a routine flight turned into a nightmare for Ingrid Hibbit and her family when their American Airlines plane caught fire, forcing a dramatic and chaotic evacuation. Describing the experience as "terrifying" and "horrific," Hibbit detailed the frantic moments as passengers scrambled to escape, her voice still trembling from the ordeal.

For Hibbit, the flight started like any other. She, along with her family, boarded the American Airlines plane expecting a smooth journey. But shortly after takeoff, everything took a horrifying turn.

The cabin filled with smoke, and an acrid smell spread through the air. Panic set in as flight attendants rushed to control the situation while passengers looked at each other with growing fear.

“We heard this loud noise, and then there was this awful smell,” Hibbit recalled. “At first, I thought maybe it was turbulence or something minor, but then I saw people starting to panic, and that’s when I knew something was really wrong.”

As the situation worsened, passengers near the windows started screaming—flames were visible outside. It was then that Hibbit saw something that would haunt her forever.

“I looked to my right, and I could see the window melting,” she said. “It was the most terrifying thing I have ever seen in my life. I couldn’t believe what was happening.”

The fire was spreading fast, and smoke was filling the cabin, making it harder to breathe. The flight crew immediately sprang into action, working to keep passengers calm while preparing for an emergency landing.

“The crew was amazing,” Hibbit admitted. “They were shouting instructions, trying to keep us calm, but you could tell even they were terrified. That’s when I started shaking uncontrollably. I was holding my family’s hands so tight, thinking, ‘Is this really happening to us?’”

With the plane engulfed in flames, the pilots made the swift decision to perform an emergency landing. Passengers braced for impact, gripping their armrests, praying for a safe landing.

When the plane finally touched down, flight attendants wasted no time opening the emergency exits and deploying the evacuation slides. But the chaos didn’t end there.

“The moment the doors opened, everyone just ran,” Hibbit said. “It was pure panic. People were shoving, some were crying, some were frozen in fear. I just kept telling myself, ‘Get your family out, get your family out.’”

As she and her family made their way to the evacuation slide, Hibbit remembers the overwhelming heat from the fire. The smell of burning fuel filled the air, and thick smoke made it difficult to see. The only thing keeping her moving was adrenaline.

“My legs felt like jelly,” she said. “I could barely think, but we just slid down as fast as we could.”

Once safely on the ground, passengers huddled together, many in shock, some sobbing, others just staring at the burning aircraft in disbelief. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, dousing the flames and assisting the injured.

“I just stood there shaking,” Hibbit recalled. “I was barefoot, my hands were trembling, and I kept looking back at the plane thinking, ‘We could have died in there.’”

Many passengers were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, but miraculously, there were no fatalities. Still, the emotional trauma was undeniable.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever step on a plane again,” Hibbit admitted. “The thought of flying just makes me sick. I keep replaying the moment I saw the fire and felt the heat—every single second of it is burned into my memory.”

As authorities begin their investigation into what caused the fire, American Airlines has yet to release a full statement. However, aviation experts believe a mechanical failure or engine malfunction may have been responsible.

Meanwhile, survivors like Hibbit are left grappling with the terrifying reality of what they just endured.

“I’m just grateful we got out alive,” she said. “But I wouldn’t wish this experience on my worst enemy.”