All 179 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated using emergency slides.
A Miami-bound American Airlines Boeing 737 Max, carrying 179 individuals, experienced a fire on the runway at Denver International Airport before it could take off, necessitating an emergency evacuation.
The FAA reported that the event took place on Saturday evening when the aircraft suffered a landing gear issue that resulted in a brake fire.
Airport authorities reported that one individual was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, while five others received treatment on scene. Firefighters quickly put out the fire, and the plane was taken out of service for assessment. Passengers were accommodated on a replacement aircraft.
Passengers recounted feeling panicked after hearing a loud noise followed by smoke.
Shay Armistead told CNN that “The plane started vibrating and shaking really bad.” Another passenger reported seeing “flames coming out from under the plane” prior to the start of the evacuation.
A video posted on X depicted passengers evacuating the aircraft via emergency slides as smoke poured from the fuselage.
This is becoming routine for airline travel. This is American Airlines in Denver.
Rear wheels blew.
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl)
According to flight data, the fire led to delays for over 240 flights at Denver International Airport. The FAA has announced an investigation into the event.
This incident occurs during a period of increased examination of Boeing’s 737 Max series. In January 2024, an Alaska Airlines Max 9 had a door plug detach mid-flight, leading the FAA to ground the aircraft model, limit production, and mandate more stringent inspections – all of which remain in effect.
Denver’s airport has recently experienced other safety concerns, including an engine fire on another American Airlines aircraft in March and a United Airlines aircraft that caught fire after striking an animal in April.
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