Smoke drifted inside an American Airlines flight in Denver. People panicked when told to slide down from the aircraft | Credit: Shutterstock
Panic spread quickly on American Airlines Flight 3023 on Saturday when passengers were told to exit and deboard, sliding down an emergency exit, because the plane began filling with smoke, the AP reported on Monday. One passenger was rushed to hospital
The pilot of the AA aeroplane reported a “possible landing gear incident” during its departure from Denver, the US Federal Aviation Administration said. The issue involved an aircraft tire, the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline stated in a press release.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, was en route to Miami International Airport when the passengers first detected smoke.
A video of the incident showed people sliding down the inflatable chute near the front of the plane while holding on dearly to their luggage and small children. Several passengers, including at least one adult carrying a young child, tripped at the end of the slide-
Shay Armistead, a 17-year-old from Minturn, Colorado, described a chaotic scene in an AP interview.
The plane shook ‘violently’
After hearing a loud explosion, the plane “started to shake violently and we were drifting to the left side of the runway,” said Armistead. She and Armistead, along with her teammates on a ski racing team, were en route from Colorado to Chile when it happened.
One passenger was taken to a hospital with a minor injury, according to American Airlines’ statement. Five people were evaluated for injuries at the scene but did not require hospitalisation, airport officials said.
“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.”
FAA is investigating
Firefighters extinguished a fire on the aircraft, the Denver Fire Department said.
“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” American said.
In a statement, the FAA said it’s investigating.
