Panic erupted at Denver International Airport on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as passengers aboard an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate using emergency slides after the aircraft caught fire on the runway. The Boeing 737 MAX 8, preparing for takeoff as Flight 3023, suffered a landing gear malfunction that led to a tire fire beneath the plane.
As smoke and flames billowed from beneath the aircraft, crew members initiated an emergency evacuation. All 173 passengers and six crew members swiftly exited the plane via inflatable emergency slides, some seen running across the tarmac in viral video footage capturing the chaotic scene. Authorities confirmed that six people were evaluated for minor injuries, with one person hospitalized.
The Denver Fire Department responded promptly, extinguishing the fire shortly after 5:00 p.m. local time. No fatalities were reported. The plane was towed from the runway, and American Airlines confirmed the aircraft has been removed from service pending investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a formal investigation into the incident, focusing on the reported tire or landing gear malfunction. The event has renewed concerns about the safety protocols surrounding Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, though no immediate link has been drawn to prior systemic issues.
Several passengers took to social media to describe the terrifying ordeal, praising the crew’s quick response while also expressing shock at the sudden emergency. One passenger wrote, “I never imagined I’d have to use an emergency slide in real life. It felt like a movie, only this time, it was very real.”
