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Dramatic video footage shared on social media shows passengers frantically fleeing the aircraft, with one man seen clutching a child as he rushed down the slide
Thick smoke billowed from beneath the plane, intensifying panic among those on board. (Image via X/@krithi_sharma)
A major emergency occurred at Denver International Airport on Sunday when passengers on an American Airlines flight had to evacuate just before takeoff because of a brake fire.
American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Miami, experienced a mechanical issue while accelerating for takeoff. Smoke and flames were seen coming from the landing gear area, prompting the crew to initiate an emergency evacuation.
All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated onto the tarmac using emergency slides.
Dramatic video footage shared on social media shows passengers frantically fleeing the aircraft, with one man seen clutching a child as he rushed down the slide and stumbled upon landing. Thick smoke billowed from beneath the plane, intensifying panic among those on board.
Another scary Boeing 737 MAX 8 incident 😟American Airlines Flight 3023 caught fire on the runway at Denver after a tire issue (July 26, 2025). 173 passengers + 6 crew evacuated safely, 1 hospitalized.
What’s going on with all these plane accidents lately? 🤔✈️ pic.twitter.com/j0jSvOm9Bz
— Krithi Sharma (@krithi_sharma) July 27, 2025
According to the Denver Fire Department, the brake fire was quickly extinguished. American Airlines later confirmed the fire was caused by blown tyres and the rapid deceleration of the aircraft while braking. The aircraft was taken out of service for a full inspection by maintenance crews.
One passenger sustained a minor injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, while five others were assessed at the scene but did not require hospitalisation, according to reports from Fox News.
In a statement, the airline said, “American Airlines Flight 3023 experienced a mechanical issue on take-off roll at Denver International Airport (DEN). All customers and crew members deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience.”
The airline added that affected passengers were rebooked on a replacement flight to Miami later the same day.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the flight crew had reported “a possible landing gear incident during departure” at around 2:45 pm local time. The agency confirmed it is investigating the incident.
This scare comes just a day after a Southwest Airlines flight made a sudden descent to avoid a collision, injuring two crew members.
The recent incidents have sparked concerns about the condition of aircraft and heightened ongoing worries about aviation safety in the United States, following a series of accidents and close calls.
(With inputs from agencies)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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