Emergency Evacuation! American Airlines Flight Aborts Takeoff After Landing Gear Fire – Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight faced a frightening moment at Denver International Airport when the plane’s landing gear caught fire during a failed takeoff attempt, prompting an emergency evacuation.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, was scheduled to depart for Miami International Airport on Saturday afternoon. However, the takeoff was abruptly halted around 2:45 p.m. after a loud noise and intense vibrations were reported by those on board.
One passenger was hospitalized with minor injuries sustained during the evacuation. Several others were treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, according to officials.
Video footage shared with NBC News captured the dramatic moment as the plane accelerated down the runway before a sudden bang was heard. Passengers reported seeing a piece of debris — later identified as part of the aircraft’s landing gear — rolling away from the plane.
“I heard a loud boom, and immediately knew something had gone wrong,” said passenger Mark Tsurkis. “The captain slowed the plane down right away. Then someone shouted, ‘Look!’ We saw a wheel rolling off on the left side of the plane.”
As the aircraft came to a complete stop, passengers began to notice a burning smell. “Then someone yelled, ‘Fire!’” Tsurkis recalled. “The emergency doors opened, and we slid down the inflatable slides.”
Despite the emergency situation, some passengers were seen exiting with their carry-on luggage — behavior that sparked online criticism and concern from officials.
“During evacuations, it’s critical to follow crew instructions and leave your luggage behind,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X (formerly Twitter). He pointed to a December study by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which found that retrieving baggage significantly slows down emergency evacuations.
American Airlines described the incident as a “maintenance issue involving an aircraft tire.” The airline confirmed that the plane was removed from service and was undergoing inspection by its technical team.
“We’re grateful to our crew for their quick and professional response,” the airline stated. “We apologize to our passengers for the disruption.” A replacement flight was arranged to transport the travelers to Miami later that same day.
Source: NBCNews
