An American Airlines flight preparing for departure at Denver International Airport had to be evacuated after its tyre caught fire, triggering a swift emergency response and halting airport operations for nearly an hour.
The incident occurred at 2:45 pm local time on Saturday, 26 July. Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 scheduled to fly from Denver to Miami, was taxiing on the runway when a mechanical issue in the landing gear led to visible smoke and flames coming from the aircraft’s left rear section.
Passengers, visibly panicked, exited the aircraft via emergency slides. Many ran across the tarmac with carry-on luggage in hand, as seen in several videos shared widely online. The footage shows dark smoke billowing from the undercarriage, with fire crews arriving within minutes to control the flames.
American Airlines, in a statement, said that the aircraft ‘experienced a maintenance issue’ with a tire on the landing gear just before taking off.
“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the statement added.
Emergency crews respond quickly
The Denver Fire Department confirmed it had extinguished the fire and ensured the area was safe. In a statement cited by Fox News, American Airlines 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.”
All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated, according to the airline. However, medical teams assessed six people for minor injuries, and one passenger was taken to hospital for further evaluation.
FAA confirms landing gear malfunction
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident.
“American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a possible landing gear incident during departure from Denver International Airport around 2:45 p.m. local time Saturday, July 26. Passengers evacuated on the runway and are being transported to the terminal by bus,” the FAA said, as quoted by Fox News.
American Airlines identified the specific issue as a tyre malfunction and said a replacement aircraft would carry passengers to Miami later the same day.
Airport operations briefly suspended
As a precaution during the evacuation and response, Denver International Airport issued a temporary ground stop between 2 pm and 3 pm. This affected nearly 90 flights, according to FlightAware data also cited by Fox News.
Normal operations resumed shortly after the situation was brought under control.
The dramatic nature of the evacuation and visuals shared online sparked strong reactions from social media users. Some criticised passengers for bringing luggage during an emergency, calling it reckless and selfish.
“People still taking their sht in an aircraft emergency has gotta be the biggest selfish thing ever,”* one user posted.
Others expressed concern over flight safety in general. “This is nerve-wracking to watch!” wrote another, while someone else added, “My fear of flying increases daily.”
Another user commented, “This is becoming routine for airline travel.”
Saturday’s fire marks the second such incident involving an American Airlines plane at Denver this year. In March 2025, another Boeing 737 engine caught fire, though that case did not require an evacuation. The recurrence of fire-related emergencies has led to questions about aircraft maintenance and oversight, though no official link has been established between the two events.
For now, authorities continue to examine the cause of the tyre failure. Passengers, while shaken, avoided serious harm — a testament, some would say, to the rapid work of the crew and emergency teams.
The FAA’s investigation remains ongoing.
The incident occurred at 2:45 pm local time on Saturday, 26 July. Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 scheduled to fly from Denver to Miami, was taxiing on the runway when a mechanical issue in the landing gear led to visible smoke and flames coming from the aircraft’s left rear section.
Passengers, visibly panicked, exited the aircraft via emergency slides. Many ran across the tarmac with carry-on luggage in hand, as seen in several videos shared widely online. The footage shows dark smoke billowing from the undercarriage, with fire crews arriving within minutes to control the flames.
American Airlines, in a statement, said that the aircraft ‘experienced a maintenance issue’ with a tire on the landing gear just before taking off.
“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the statement added.
Emergency crews respond quickly
The Denver Fire Department confirmed it had extinguished the fire and ensured the area was safe. In a statement cited by Fox News, American Airlines 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.”
Video: People evacuate American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport after wheels caught fire
— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) July 26, 2025
pic.twitter.com/BIYuTjyDgt
All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated, according to the airline. However, medical teams assessed six people for minor injuries, and one passenger was taken to hospital for further evaluation.
FAA confirms landing gear malfunction
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it had launched an investigation into the incident.
“American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a possible landing gear incident during departure from Denver International Airport around 2:45 p.m. local time Saturday, July 26. Passengers evacuated on the runway and are being transported to the terminal by bus,” the FAA said, as quoted by Fox News.
American Airlines identified the specific issue as a tyre malfunction and said a replacement aircraft would carry passengers to Miami later the same day.
Airport operations briefly suspended
As a precaution during the evacuation and response, Denver International Airport issued a temporary ground stop between 2 pm and 3 pm. This affected nearly 90 flights, according to FlightAware data also cited by Fox News.
Normal operations resumed shortly after the situation was brought under control.
The dramatic nature of the evacuation and visuals shared online sparked strong reactions from social media users. Some criticised passengers for bringing luggage during an emergency, calling it reckless and selfish.
“People still taking their sht in an aircraft emergency has gotta be the biggest selfish thing ever,”* one user posted.
Others expressed concern over flight safety in general. “This is nerve-wracking to watch!” wrote another, while someone else added, “My fear of flying increases daily.”
Another user commented, “This is becoming routine for airline travel.”
Saturday’s fire marks the second such incident involving an American Airlines plane at Denver this year. In March 2025, another Boeing 737 engine caught fire, though that case did not require an evacuation. The recurrence of fire-related emergencies has led to questions about aircraft maintenance and oversight, though no official link has been established between the two events.
For now, authorities continue to examine the cause of the tyre failure. Passengers, while shaken, avoided serious harm — a testament, some would say, to the rapid work of the crew and emergency teams.
The FAA’s investigation remains ongoing.
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