Hereâs a polished news-style summary of the incident, based on verified reporting sources:
Denver, CO â July 26, 2025
An American Airlines Flight 3023 bound for Miami was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport around 2:45âŻp.m. local time due to a mechanical failure involving a tire and landing gear, causing smoke and flames near the rear-left wheel of the aircraft (YouTube, The Daily Beast).
Passengers reported hearing a loud bang just before the plane came to a halt. Shortly after, smoke and fire were visible, prompting an emergency evacuation via inflatable slides (CBS News, New York Post).
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the crew reported a âpossible landing gear incidentâ during departure; the issue was tied to a tire malfunction (ABC News).
The Denver Fire Department responded quickly and extinguished the flames before 5:10âŻp.m. local time (CBS News).
âď¸ Details at a glance:
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Boeing 737 MAXÂ 8 |
| Flight | AA3023 (Denver â Miami) |
| On board | 173 passengers, 6 crew members |
| Injuries | One passenger transported (minor) |
| Evacuation | Via emergency slides on the runway |
| Delay at airport | Ground stop for ~1 hour |
| Post-incident actions | Aircraft grounded, FAA investigation launched |
đ¨ââď¸ Response & Reaction
- American Airlines confirmed that all passengers and crew deplaned safely, thanked their staff for professionalism, and apologized for the disruption. The aircraft has since been removed from service for a full inspection (CBS News, ABC News, The Daily Beast).
- The FAA has launched a formal investigation into the cause of the incident (The Daily Beast).
- The FAAâs audio transcript captures dramatic exchanges between air traffic control and the pilot:
âFlightâŻ3023, you got a lot of smoke ⌠you are actually on fire.â (Instagram, The Daily Beast)
đ Why this matters:
- This incident marks another recent aviation scare at Denverâwidely regarded as one of the worldâs busiest airports (9News).
- The fast, orderly evacuation highlights emergency protocols working effectively, but also underscores persistent worries over the reliability of designs like the Boeing 737 MAX series.
- It saw 306+ flights delayed in the aftermath due to a temporary ground stop imposed by airport authorities while the situation was addressed (CBS News).
đ˛ From the Scene
- The viral video posted by SBS News Australia captured panicked passengers sliding down emergency chutes as thick black smoke billowed from the planeâdramatic footage that confirms eyewitness accounts and reporting (YouTube).
- Several other outlets such as ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NDTV corroborated the timeline, evacuation process, and technical cause with consistent eyewitness quotes and official statements (CBS News, ABC News, 9News, www.ndtv.com).
đ What to Expect Next
- The FAA investigation will determine the precise technical failure and assess whether further safety measures or maintenance protocols need revision.
- American Airlines may issue follow-up statements or corrective actions once inspection findings are completed.
- Passengers involved were rebooked on alternative flights, and the aircraft remains grounded pending repair and clearance.
Want a follow-up on the victimsâ status, airport disruption details, or similar prior incidents at Denver? Iâm happy to dig deeper.