Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Denver to Miami faced a tense situation on Saturday when the aircraft experienced a landing gear issue just before takeoff. Footage from the scene showed passengers evacuating the Boeing 737 Max 8 via emergency slides as smoke and fire were reported underneath the plane.
The Denver Fire Department promptly responded, extinguishing the fire without any serious injuries among the 173 passengers and six crew members onboard. While five individuals were evaluated at the scene, none required transport for serious medical treatment, although one person did seek attention for a minor injury.
This incident marked the second major airline mishap within the span of a few days, following a Southwest Airlines flight that experienced a sudden nosedive shortly after takeoff from California to Las Vegas. This previous incident had left passengers in a panic, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of air travel.
American Airlines confirmed that the issue involved a maintenance problem with a tire, leading the flight to be grounded for safety inspections. The airline expressed gratitude for the professionalism of its crew and offered apologies to those affected by the situation. Passengers were scheduled to continue their journey on a replacement aircraft later that same day.
The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation into the incident. Following the evacuation, Denver International Airport experienced significant delays, prompting a temporary ground stop for incoming flights, which has since been lifted as operations returned to normal.
While the experience was alarming for those involved, the successful evacuation without serious injuries showcases the effectiveness of safety protocols in air travel. Passengers can take solace in the fact that despite such frightening incidents, the prioritization of safety by airline crews and emergency responders helped avert a more serious situation.