American Airlines Passengers Evacuate Boeing Jet as Brake Fire Triggers Panic Before Departure
Shocking video clips shared on social media captured the chaos as passengers urgently exited the plane, with one man seen holding a child while sliding down and tumbling upon landing.
A serious emergency unfolded at Denver International Airport on Sunday when travelers aboard an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate moments before departure due to a brake fire.
American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 headed to Miami, encountered a mechanical malfunction during its takeoff roll. Flames and smoke were visible near the landing gear, prompting the flight crew to initiate an immediate evacuation.
All 173 passengers and six crew members disembarked safely onto the runway via emergency slides.
Viral footage on social media shows a scene of panic, with passengers desperately escaping the aircraft. One clip shows a man gripping a small child as he hurries down the inflatable slide and loses balance on impact. Dense smoke pouring from under the aircraft further escalated fear among those aboard.
The Denver Fire Department reported that the brake fire was quickly brought under control. American Airlines later explained the blaze was linked to burst tires and abrupt deceleration during braking. The aircraft was subsequently removed from service for detailed inspection by maintenance personnel.
One traveler sustained a minor injury and was transported to a local medical facility for assessment. Five other passengers were evaluated at the scene but did not require hospital treatment, Fox News reported.
In an official statement, the airline said, “American Airlines Flight 3023 encountered a mechanical problem during its takeoff roll at Denver International Airport (DEN). All guests and crew exited the aircraft safely, and the plane was withdrawn from service for examination by our maintenance technicians. We appreciate our team’s professionalism and sincerely apologize to our customers for the incident.”
The airline confirmed that impacted travelers were accommodated on an alternate flight to Miami later the same day.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the flight crew had reported “a potential landing gear issue during takeoff” at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. The agency has launched an investigation into the event.
This incident occurred just one day after a Southwest Airlines flight was forced into a sharp descent to prevent a mid-air collision, resulting in injuries to two crew members.
These back-to-back events have reignited concerns over aircraft conditions and intensified ongoing public anxiety about aviation safety in the U.S., amid a string of mishaps and near misses.
