Passengers aboard American Airlines Flight AA3023 faced a frightening ordeal on Saturday afternoon after the aircraft's main landing gear reportedly caught fire during takeoff at Denver International Airport. The flight, bound for Miami, was halted on the runway, prompting an emergency evacuation.
The incident occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time on Runway 34L, according to the Denver Fire Department. Fire broke out near the rear landing gear of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 while the aircraft was still on the ground. Emergency slides were deployed, and all 173 passengers and six crew members evacuated safely.
Denver International Airport officials confirmed that local fire and rescue teams responded swiftly, containing and extinguishing the blaze. While five individuals were evaluated by medics on-site, only one was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. The remaining passengers were cleared at the scene and transported by bus back to the terminal.
FlightAware data showed the flight was originally scheduled to depart from Gate C34 at 1:12 p.m. The tyre fire disrupted takeoff shortly before 2:45 p.m., delaying operations at the busy airport. A temporary ground stop was implemented from 2:00 p.m. to shortly after 3:00 p.m., impacting 87 arriving flights. Normal operations resumed later in the afternoon.
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating what it called a “possible landing gear incident.” American Airlines, in its response, said the aircraft experienced a maintenance issue involving one of its tyres, which led to the emergency stop and evacuation.
No further flights were reported to be at risk, and American Airlines said it is cooperating fully with FAA investigators. The airline also assured that passengers would be rebooked on alternate flights to their destinations.
The incident marks another in a series of safety-related events involving commercial airliners this year, raising renewed concerns over aircraft maintenance and emergency preparedness.
