- Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft bursts into flames before takeoff in Denver
- 179 people on board, one hospitalised, several treated for shock
- FAA launches investigation into landing gear failure
A major scare unfolded at Denver International Airport on Saturday as an American Airlines plane with 179 people on board caught fire shortly before takeoff, prompting a swift emergency evacuation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the incident involved American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 scheduled to depart for Miami. Authorities confirmed that the fire started around 2:45 p.m. local time due to a possible landing gear issue.
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All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated via emergency slides. One person was taken to hospital with minor injuries, while five others received on-site medical attention.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft experienced a “landing gear incident during departure.” The airline later stated the problem stemmed from one of the plane’s tyres, which has since been removed for inspection.
Video footage from a passenger, Mark Tsurkis, showed flames and thick smoke emerging from the aircraft’s rear. In the clip, passengers were seen fleeing the plane using an emergency slide before being transported to the terminal by bus.
Tsurkis, who splits his time between Miami and Colorado Springs, described the moment to CBS News Miami. “During the speed-up, when the plane almost took off, we heard a loud boom,” he said. “It was definitely an unpleasant moment… we were lucky we didn’t get airborne.”
He said the pilots decelerated quickly and came to a halt. Within moments, passengers noticed smoke, triggering panic and a full-scale evacuation.
Denver Fire Department later confirmed that the blaze had been extinguished and the scene cleared. The aircraft remains grounded as investigations continue.
The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident and is working with airline and airport officials to determine the root cause.
