An American Airlines flight bound for Miami was forced to abort take-off at Denver International Airport on Saturday after a landing gear malfunction triggered fire and smoke, prompting an emergency evacuation. All 173 passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft, though one person sustained a minor injury, authorities confirmed.
Flight AA-3023, flown by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was involved in the incident. The airline subsequently reported that the emergency situation was caused by a tyre maintenance issue on the aircraft. Smoke billowed around the aircraft as passengers, clearly in a panic, slid down emergency chutes to escape, according to dramatic rescue footage taken at the scene. The landing gear was seen on fire as the evacuation unfolded on the runway.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft reported a possible landing gear issue while departing from Denver around 2:45 p.m. local time. Passengers were immediately evacuated on the runway and transported to the terminal by bus. The FAA confirmed it will conduct a further investigation into the fire and the cause of the malfunction.
Denver International Airport issued a separate statement confirming the incident took place on the runway and said that the airport’s First Responders and the Denver Fire Department were quickly alerted. “Five people were evaluated on scene and not transported. One person was evaluated at a gate and was transported,” the statement added. The Denver Fire Department later confirmed that the fire had been extinguished by approximately 5:10 p.m.
American Airlines, in its official statement, acknowledged the issue and reassured that “all customers and crew deplaned safely.” The airline added that the aircraft has been removed from service and will undergo a thorough inspection by its maintenance team.
Meanwhile, a video clip from the scene has sparked outrage online, showing one passenger evacuating the aircraft while appearing to prioritize his luggage over his child. The man was seen descending the slide holding a bag in one hand and a small child—apparently by the neck—in the other. He stumbled upon landing, falling over the child, drawing criticism for his handling of the situation during the emergency evacuation.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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