Drama at DIA: Passengers Evacuate Smoking Jet After Landing Gear Incident
A harrowing scene unfolded Saturday afternoon at Denver International Airport (DIA) as passengers on an American Airlines flight bound for Miami were forced to evacuate via emergency slides after the plane reported a possible landing gear issue and began smoking.
American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, was departing for Miami International Airport when those on board reported a “loud boom” and violent shaking.
The problem, which the airline identified as involving an aircraft tire, led the pilot to abort takeoff.
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“About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop,” passenger Shaun Williams told KUSA-TV. “The pilot immediately started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him start to hit the brakes.”
Video captured the dramatic evacuation, showing passengers, some clutching luggage and small children, sliding down the inflatable chutes near the front of the plane. While most deplaned safely, some individuals, including an adult carrying a young child, tripped upon reaching the concrete runway.
Emergency crews quickly responded to the scene. Firefighters extinguished a fire on the aircraft, according to the Denver Fire Department. Passengers were subsequently transported by bus to the terminal.
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American Airlines confirmed that one passenger was taken to a hospital with a minor injury, and five others were evaluated at the scene but did not require hospitalization. The airline stated that “all customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it is investigating the incident.
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