A harrowing scene unfolded Saturday afternoon at Denver International Airport as an American Airlines jet carrying 179 people caught fire on the runway, forcing a full-scale emergency evacuation.
The aircraft, operating as American Airlines Flight 3023, was preparing for takeoff en route to Miami International Airport when disaster nearly struck. According to officials, a mechanical malfunction—later linked to the landing gear—triggered a fire just moments before the plane was scheduled to lift off.
In a statement, the Denver Fire Department confirmed that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 suffered a suspected landing gear failure at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, igniting flames near the rear of the aircraft while it was still on the tarmac.
As thick smoke billowed into the sky, 173 passengers and six crew members were ordered to evacuate immediately using emergency slides. Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene, extinguishing the flames and assisting with passenger recovery.
CBS News reported that all on board were safely evacuated. While five individuals were assessed at the scene by medical personnel, only one person was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Dramatic footage captured by passenger Mark Tsurkis, and shared on Instagram, shows terrified travelers fleeing the burning aircraft as black smoke loomed behind them. “During the speed-up, when the plane almost took off, we heard a loud boom, and I said, ‘That’s not good,’” Tsurkis recounted to CBS News Miami.
He continued, “It was definitely an unpleasant moment, but we were lucky that we didn’t get up in the air. It happened maybe five to ten seconds before takeoff. If it had happened midair, the outcome could have been very different.”
Passengers were transported back to the terminal by bus, visibly shaken but grateful to be alive. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the incident is under investigation, stating that the crew had reported “a possible landing gear incident during departure.”
In a follow-up statement, American Airlines said the plane experienced “a maintenance issue prior to takeoff involving one of its tires” and that the aircraft has been taken out of service for a comprehensive inspection.
Later that evening, the Denver Fire Department confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished and the situation brought under control.
As investigations continue, the terrifying near-miss serves as a stark reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness and the skill of airline crews trained to react under pressure. For the passengers of Flight 3023, it was a journey that never took off—but one they will never forget.
PIONEER NEWS 