Landing Gear Malfunction Triggers Emergency Evacuation on American Airlines Flight

Passengers Evacuate as Plane Smokes on Tarmac

On Saturday, 26 July, passengers aboard an American Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 were forced to evacuate due to a mechanical failure. A video shared online showed the scene depicting flames, smoke, and emergency slides deployed for evacuation.

The Miami-bound flight 3023 aborted takeoff after pilots detected a problem with the landing gear upon accelerating down the runway. This happened at 2:45PM local time, whereby air traffic control captured warnings about smoke and flames emanating from the aircraft and facilitated intervention by emergency crews.

Denver firefighters then extinguished a brake fire, assumed to be caused by blown tires and sudden braking.

Plumes of smoke were observed rising from the plane’s undercarriage in the video, while passengers sprinted across the tarmac following emergency-slide evacuation.

Rapid Response, Minor Injury

All 173 passengers and six crew members escaped safely, though one person was hospitalized for a minor injury and five others were evaluated at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is investigating the incident as a “possible landing gear failure.”

The flight was halted midway down the runway after reaching about 127 knots (nearly 150 mph), according to data from FlightRadar24. Witnesses described a loud bang, followed by visible flames and vibrations before the pilot hit the brakes.

Emergency slides were deployed within seconds, and passengers were shuttled back to the terminal by bus.

Plane Grounded, FAA Investigates

American Airlines stated that the jet suffered a tire-related mechanical issue and has been removed from service for inspection. A replacement aircraft was arranged later the same day to complete the journey to Miami.

In addition to expressing regret for the inconvenience, the airline praised its employees for acting quickly and professionally under pressure. No further details about the specific mechanical fault have been released, but the Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a formal probe.

Wider Operational Impact at Major Hub

All incoming flights that had not yet taken off were temporarily grounded at Denver International Airport due to the issue. According to FlightAware, over 300 flights were delayed that day, though normal operations resumed by evening.

Denver Airport, one of the world’s busiest air hubs, has experienced multiple high-profile disruptions in recent months.

Saturday’s scare came less than 24 hours after a Southwest flight plunged hundreds of feet near Burbank to avoid a potential midair collision—raising fresh concerns over aviation safety nationwide.

Recent Troubles for American Airlines

Saturday’s runway emergency follows another incident last month when American Airlines Flight 1665, an Airbus A321, returned to Las Vegas after takeoff due to a separate technical issue. Though that flight landed safely, eyewitnesses reported smoke during ascent.

With the FAA now investigating back-to-back episodes, attention is once again focused on the mechanical reliability of U.S. commercial fleets—especially amid increased summer travel traffic.

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Passengers on an American Airlines flight departing from Denver International Airport were evacuated today after a “possible landing gear incident”, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A statement on the FAA’s website read: “American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a possible landing gear incident during departure from Denver International Airport around 2:45pm 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. Contact the airline for additional information.” Personalise your news and stay in the know with the ABC NEWS app via the link in our bio. #ABCNews #USNews #Aviation

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