Passengers were seen fleeing from an American Airlines jet on the runway at Denver International Airport on July 26 as plumes of smoke billowed from the aircraft’s belly.
The jet experienced a “mechanical issue on takeoff roll at Denver International Airport,” which involved an “aircraft tire,” American Airlines told Reuters in a statement. The airline said all 173 passengers and six crew members exited the aircraft safely, and the plane was “taken out of service to be inspected” by American Airlines maintenance personnel.
One of the passengers was sent to a hospital after incurring a minor injury, the airline said in its statement.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told The Epoch Times that American Airlines Flight 3023 reported a “possible landing gear incident” during its departure from Denver at roughly 2:45 p.m. local time on July 26. After the passengers evacuated via the runway, they were transported to the terminal by bus, it added.
The plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was headed to Miami International Airport. The FAA is investigating the incident, the agency said.
One passenger described the events leading up to the moment everyone on board was told to evacuate.
“About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop,” passenger Shaun Williams told local media. “The pilot immediately started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him start to hit the brakes.”
On July 24, the FAA said it would look at Boeing’s “entire supply chain” before removing the 38-plane-per-month cap on production of the manufacturer’s 737 MAX jet.
The agency imposed the production cap shortly after a midair door panel blowout in January 2024 occurred, involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 that was missing four key door bolts.
