An American Airlines flight bound for Miami was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport on Saturday after a landing gear malfunction caused a fire on the runway. All 173 passengers and crew members on board were safely evacuated, with one individual sustaining a minor injury, according to officials.
Flight AA-3023, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was preparing for departure around 2:45 PM local time when the aircraft reported a suspected tire issue on its landing gear. The malfunction led to visible flames and smoke beneath the plane, prompting an emergency response.
Dramatic footage from the scene showed passengers rapidly evacuating via inflatable slides, with the landing gear visibly ablaze. Smoke enveloped the runway as travelers rushed away from the aircraft. Emergency crews from the Denver Fire Department and airport first responders quickly extinguished the fire and assisted in the evacuation process.
According to Denver airport authorities, five passengers were medically evaluated on site, with one requiring hospital transport. The fire was declared fully extinguished by 5:10 PM.
American Airlines later confirmed the aircraft experienced a “maintenance issue” related to a tire and has since been removed from service for inspection. “All customers and crew deplaned safely,” the airline stated.
However, a passenger drew sharp criticism online after video emerged showing him sliding down the emergency chute while holding luggage in one hand and a child by the neck in the other. The man lost balance and appeared to fall onto the child—an act many called reckless during an emergency evacuation.
This marks the second fire-related aircraft incident at Denver Airport in five months. In March, another American Airlines flight, this time a Boeing 737-800 headed to Dallas, caught fire prior to takeoff. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated in that case as well.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into Saturday’s incident.
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