Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a near-tragic incident at Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon, an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 179 people narrowly avoided disaster after its landing gear caught fire moments before takeoff.
The flight, designated AA3023, was scheduled to depart Denver for Miami International Airport at 1:12 PM local time. However, while preparing for takeoff on runway 34L at approximately 2:45 PM (local time), one of the tires on the aircraft’s landing gear malfunctioned, sparking a fire.
The onboard passengers included 173 travelers and six crew members. Thanks to the swift response of the Denver Fire Department and airport emergency teams, all individuals were safely evacuated using emergency slides. According to reports, five passengers were treated on-site for minor injuries, while one person was taken to a hospital for precautionary treatment.
American Airlines confirmed the incident in an official statement, noting that the affected aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the fire was linked to a technical issue with one of its tires. The airline added that the plane has been removed from service and a full investigation is underway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also acknowledged the incident, listing it as a suspected landing gear failure. As a precaution, ground operations at Denver Airport were halted between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, leading to delays in 87 flights. However, normal operations resumed by evening.
The aircraft was originally scheduled to depart from gate C34. After the fire, American Airlines arranged an alternative aircraft to transport the passengers to Miami, which departed later the same evening.
This marks the second major incident involving American Airlines at Denver this year. In March 2025, another aircraft operated by the airline was forced to make an emergency landing after an engine failure mid-flight.
Authorities continue to investigate the precise cause of the tire malfunction, and further safety checks are being conducted across the airline’s fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
