American Airlines plane that caught fire had engine parts installed incorrectly, NTSB finds

The American Airlines flight that caught fire soon after taking off from Denver International Airport in March had several parts installed incorrectly and fuel leaks according to a preliminary record issued Thursday The Dallas-bound aircraft had one loose part inside the right engine installed in the wrong direction and fuel leaking from the fitting of another part that was also fastened incorrectly according to the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB account Soon after the plane took off the crew noticed issues with the right engine the assessment stated AMERICAN AIRLINES PASSENGERS EVACUATE FLIGHT ON WING OF PLANE AFTER LANDING IN GEORGIA VIDEO SHOWS The captain noted high engine vibration indications for the right engine the overview stated while the crew discussed whether they needed to divert before contacting American Airlines dispatchers They landed safely but soon after arriving at a gate passengers and crew members noticed fire and smoke filling the cabin Images and video indicated passengers evacuating the aircraft and standing on the wings of the plane One of the flight attendants tried calling the flight crew while another knocked on the cockpit door to alert the flight crew the review announced The NTSB summary also established streaks on the outside of the engine from the leaking fuel The plane was towed to a hangar for examination DELTA PASSENGERS IN ORLANDO EVACUATE PLANE DUE TO ENGINE FIREDuring an inspection of the damage investigators saw that the plane exhibited heat smoke burn indications near the right engine nacelle right wing right side of the fuselage aft of the wing the right main landing gear and the right main landing gear wheel well the overview disclosed In addition the lockwire of a fuel fitting on the variable stator vane VSV was loose and installed in the incorrect direction in addition to other issues Further examination of the engines revealed that one fan blade platform was fractured according to the review Another part of the plane that controls airflow through the turbine s compressor was determined to be incorrectly fastened and secured allowing fuel to leak from the fitting American Airlines declared passengers and six crew members were on board at the time of the situation The airplane had substantial damage while passengers and the six crew members sustained minor injuries according to the overview Fox News Digital has reached out to American Airlines