An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 173 passengers and six crew members was evacuated via emergency slides at Denver International Airport on Saturday after a tyre-related maintenance issue sparked a fire during takeoff, leaving one person hospitalised with minor injuries.
Flight 3023, bound for Miami International Airport, was forced to abort its departure at approximately 2:45pm local time when a blown tyre caused flames and smoke to billow from the aircraft’s left main landing gear as it accelerated down Runway 34L.
“American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a possible landing gear incident during departure from Denver International Airport around 2:45pm local time Saturday, July 26,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. “Passengers evacuated on the runway and are being transported to the terminal by bus.”
Emergency Response Swift as Passengers Flee Burning Aircraft
Dramatic footage captured passengers sliding down emergency chutes at the front of the plane whilst clutching luggage and small children, with thick black smoke visible beneath the aircraft. The Denver Fire Department responded immediately and extinguished the blaze.
Mark Tsurkis, a 50-year-old passenger from Miami and Colorado Springs, described hearing “a loud boom” moments before the aircraft was due to become airborne. I would say about 10 seconds before the plane was supposed to get airborne, we hear the loud ‘boom,'” Tsurkis told local media. “Some people started panicking and stuff, but I kinda kept calm.”
Air traffic control alerted the flight crew in real-time about the emergency. “Flight 3023, you got a lot of smoke… You are actually on fire,” controllers warned the pilots, according to audio recordings.
Passengers Describe Chaotic Scenes During Evacuation
Seventeen-year-old Shay Armistead from Minturn, Colorado, who was travelling to Santiago, Chile, for a ski trip, said the ordeal was “kind of traumatising.” She described how the plane began “vibrating and shaking really bad” after the loud bang, before tilting to the left side of the runway.
“One passenger was screaming, ‘We’re all gonna die,'” Armistead recalled. “Another passenger was not sitting down and cooperating, and so it was kind of just a lot of panic.”
Margaret Gustafson, Armistead’s 16-year-old teammate, had a clear view from her window seat and saw flames coming from under the plane. “That’s when I started fully panicking,” she said.
The entire evacuation process took approximately 10 to 15 minutes, with passengers sliding down the emergency chute at the rear of the aircraft before being transported to the terminal by bus.
American Airlines Confirms Tyre Maintenance Issue Behind Incident
American Airlines attributed the emergency to a maintenance problem involving one of the aircraft’s tyres. The combination of the blown tyre and heavy braking during the aborted takeoff caused the brake fire, according to airline officials.
“American Airlines flight 3023 experienced a mechanical issue on take-off roll at Denver International Airport,” the airline said in a statement. “All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience.”
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 had been scheduled to depart from Gate C34 at 1:12pm local time, with the incident occurring more than an hour behind schedule as the aircraft prepared for takeoff.
One Passenger Hospitalised, Five Others Evaluated at Scene
Denver International Airport officials confirmed that five people were evaluated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment. One additional passenger was evaluated at the gate and transported to hospital with minor injuries.
American Airlines arranged a replacement aircraft for the displaced passengers, who departed for Miami later on Saturday evening. The incident caused significant disruption at the world’s sixth-busiest airport, with FlightAware showing at least 306 flights delayed and 14 cancelled as of Saturday evening.
The airport implemented a ground stop from 2pm until shortly after 3pm for all incoming flights that had not yet departed their origin airports. Normal operations have since resumed.
FAA Launches Investigation Into Latest Denver Airport Aviation Incident
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a formal investigation into the incident, which marks the latest in a series of concerning aviation emergencies at Denver International Airport this year.
In March, passengers were forced to stand on the wing of an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 after evacuating when one of its engines caught fire following an emergency landing. The aircraft had originally departed from Colorado Springs with an engine-related issue.
Just one month later, a United Airlines plane struck an unidentified animal during takeoff at Denver, causing flames to shoot from the engine. The string of incidents has raised questions about aviation safety procedures at the major Colorado hub.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows the aircraft reached a top speed of 127 knots—nearly 150 miles per hour—on the runway before rapidly decelerating when the tyre issue became apparent.
Aviation Safety Experts Praise Swift Emergency Response
Aviation safety specialists have commended the quick response of both the flight crew and emergency services in preventing what could have been a far more serious incident.
Saturday’s incident highlights the importance of well-practiced emergency procedures and swift action from both the crew and first responders,” industry experts noted. The evacuation demonstrates the effectiveness of modern aircraft safety systems and crew training protocols.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 series has faced intense scrutiny following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a worldwide grounding. However, Saturday’s incident appears unrelated to the previous technical issues that affected the aircraft type.
American Airlines operates one of the largest fleets of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the United States, with the airline having resumed service with the aircraft following extensive safety modifications and pilot retraining programmes.
Airport Operations Return to Normal Following Emergency
Denver International Airport, which handles more than 69 million passengers annually, has returned to normal operations following Saturday’s emergency response. The airport’s emergency services demonstrated their preparedness for such incidents, with fire crews reaching the aircraft within minutes of the alert.
The investigation will examine maintenance records, crew procedures, and the specific circumstances that led to the tyre failure. The aircraft remains out of service pending a thorough inspection by American Airlines’ maintenance team and federal investigators.
Passengers affected by the incident have been rebooked on alternative flights, with the airline providing accommodation and meal vouchers where necessary. The replacement flight to Miami departed approximately six hours behind the original schedule.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation findings are expected to be released in the coming weeks, which may include recommendations for enhanced safety procedures or maintenance protocols for similar aircraft operations.
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