Over 150 passengers on an American Airlines flight at Denver International Airport were evacuated onto the runway Saturday, July 26, after a what was called a “landing gear incident” that injured one person and provoked a fire, the US Federal Aviation Administration has reported.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, bound for Miami with 173 passengers and six crew members, experienced a tire-related “maintenance issue” seconds before takeoff. Emergency personnel and the Denver Fire Department responded, evacuating passengers via a slide after a loud bang and flames were reported. The fire in the plane’s brakes, which was caused by blown tires, was extinguished by fire crews, and the aircraft was removed for inspection.
American Airlines apologised to passengers and praised their crew’s professionalism. Five passengers were evaluated on-site, with one taken to the hospital for minor injuries. The incident, which occurred at around 2.45pm after a scheduled 1.12pm departure, delayed 240 flights, according to FlightAware on X. A replacement flight to Miami was arranged, and the FAA has launched an investigation.
Beleaguered Boeing at Denver airport suffers string of emergency evacuations
This evacuation follows other recent incidents at Denver, the world’s sixth-busiest airport. In March, passengers had to evacuate a burning American Airlines plane after an engine caught fire, leaving many to have to jump several metres from a wing. In April, a United Airlines plane hit an animal during takeoff, causing an engine to burst into flames.
The string of Boeing incidents in 2025, including the Denver runway evacuation, the Air India Flight 171 crash, and the Delta Boeing 767 engine fire, has intensified scrutiny on the manufacturer’s safety and quality control processes.
Passengers described Saturday’s event as “traumatising.” Some passengers recounted hearing a loud bang, experiencing violent shaking, and seeing the plane tilt left while the brakes applied forcefully. Flames were seen coming from under the plane, causing panic among the passengers. One passenger is reported to have screamed, “We’re all gonna die,” while another resisted instructions to remain seated, adding to the chaos. The evacuation took 10 to 15 minutes via the slide.
This incident followed a close call Friday, July 25, when a privately owned Hawker Hunter jet crossed within two miles of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 at a similar altitude.
