Smoke and panic on runway: American Airlines flight evacuated after landing gear bursts into flames
A terrifying scene unfolded at Denver International Airport as an American Airlines flight aborted takeoff due to a landing gear malfunction, triggering a fire and emergency evacuation, according to media reports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said passengers aboard Flight 1685, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, were forced to evacuate the Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Saturday afternoon after smoke filled the cabin.
The aircraft, carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, was accelerating on the runway around 2:45 p.m. when pilots detected a mechanical issue involving the landing gear. Takeoff was halted immediately, and emergency chutes were deployed.
According to CNN, the plane had already reported a “maintenance issue” involving a tire prior to departure. Onboard panic intensified when smoke began to rise, prompting crew members to initiate an emergency evacuation.
Emergency services from both Denver International Airport and the Denver Fire Department responded swiftly. American Airlines confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and bussed back to the terminal.
While no serious injuries were reported, five passengers were evaluated on-site, and one person was taken to hospital with a minor injury, authorities said.
‘There was smoke everywhere’
Videos shared online show panicked passengers sliding down the emergency exits and running across the tarmac as smoke billowed from the aircraft.
“The plane had started to roll for takeoff, and then there was this sudden stop,” one passenger told CBS News Colorado. “Then the smoke came. People were shouting to get out, and the next thing we knew, the emergency doors were open and we were on the slides.”
Airline issues statement, FAA launches probe
In a statement, American Airlines apologised to customers and thanked its crew for their professionalism:
“The aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. All customers and crew deplaned safely. The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority.”
Affected passengers were rebooked on a replacement flight to Miami later in the day.
The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.
