An American Airlines flight was evacuated due to a landing gear problem at Denver airport

An American Airlines flightbound for Miami was emergency evacuated at Denver International Airport (DEN) on Saturday after a landing gear problem triggered a fire on the runway.

The incident, which involved a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, occurred during preparations for takeoff, generating an immediate response from the Denver Fire Department and an ongoing investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

According to the FAA, the incident took place at around 14:45 local time when the flight, scheduled to depart, reported a problem with the landing gear while still on the runway.

American Airlines confirmed that the cause was a maintenance issue related to a tire, which resulted in a fire that was quickly extinguished by Denver firefighters. The 173 passengers and six crew members on board were evacuated safely, using emergency slides, according to videos shared on social media, according to report Fox News.

For its part, the airport reported that five people were evaluated at the scene but did not require medical transfer. However, one person evaluated in the gate area was taken to a hospital for a minor injury.

American Airlines expressed its appreciation to the crew and response teams for their professionalism and assured that the affected passengers would be re-accommodated on a replacement flight to Miami later in the day. “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 Boeing 737 MAX 8 was headed to Miami International Airport. The FAA will investigate”, the airline stated in an official release.

The incident caused operational disruptions at the airport, one of the busiest in the United States, with more than 78 million passengers in 2024.