Passengers had to evacuate using emergency slides from an American Airlines flight in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday due to issues with the landing gear just before takeoff.
The plane, American Airlines flight 3023, was set to depart when the incident occurred, according to reports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that there was a “possible landing gear incident” while the aircraft was departing from Denver International Airport.
Footage captured showed smoke billowing into the air, alongside emergency signals and sirens, prompting many passengers to exit the plane quickly. There were also reports of fire on the ground beneath the aircraft.
A few passengers were seen carrying children as they disembarked, and one man stumbled while holding a baby, evident that there was a rush to escape.
Fire crews from Denver were dispatched promptly to the site. According to reports, the situation required fire extinguishing efforts.
All 173 passengers and six crew members aboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 safely exited the aircraft.
Among those onboard, five individuals were evaluated for injuries, although only one required transportation for minor treatment.
One passenger, Mark Tulkis, described hearing a loud boom prior to takeoff and sensed that something was off. Gradually, he noticed the plane was slowing down, and there were concerns about the wheels and overall stability.
“When we stopped, it felt like 30 seconds to a minute later, someone shouted about smoke and fire,” Tulkis recalled. This clearly caused a wave of panic among passengers.
Additional footage shows passengers standing on the runway waiting for assistance after exiting the plane.
The airline announced that passengers would be transported to Miami on another flight, as the original aircraft underwent inspection. The FAA is also looking into the incident.
This unfortunate news follows a recent incident involving Delta Air Lines, where there were issues with engine blazes during takeoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
