Panic on Denver Runway: Jet Fire Sparks Evacuation

Chaos erupted at Denver International Airport on Saturday when American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Miami, aborted takeoff due to a landing gear malfunction that sparked a fire. Passengers evacuated via emergency slides as smoke and flames billowed from the aircraft’s rear, authorities reported.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted a “possible landing gear incident” around 2:45 p.m. local time. Passenger Shaun Williams described hearing a “big bang and a pop” halfway to takeoff speed, prompting the pilot to slam on the brakes. Dramatic footage showed passengers, clutching luggage and children, sliding down inflatable chutes, with some tripping and falling onto the concrete tarmac.

All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated and bused to the terminal. One passenger was hospitalized with a minor injury, while five others were evaluated on-site but did not require further treatment, per Denver International Airport officials. The Denver Fire Department extinguished a brake fire caused by a tire issue, American Airlines confirmed.

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The airline apologized, stating the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection. Passengers were rebooked on a replacement flight. The FAA is investigating the incident, which delayed 90 flights at the airport. This marks another alarming aviation event at Denver, following a March engine fire incident.

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