Fire in Boeing minutes before takeoff; passengers seen sliding down 

WASHINGTON: An American Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff after a landing gear malfunction caused smoke and fire. The incident occurred at 2:45 am local time as it was preparing to depart from Denver Airport. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, flight AA-3023, was en route to Miami when the snag occurred. All 173 passengers on board were evacuated. Authorities said only one person was slightly injured in the accident.

Footage of the fire and smoke billowing from the plane was widely shared on social media. The Federal Aviation Administration said it has launched an investigation into the incident. The fire broke out while the plane was on the runway, and airport staff and the Denver Fire Department responded immediately, Denver Airport officials said in a statement. The Denver Fire Department said the fire was extinguished by 5:10 am local time.

🚨#BREAKING: Watch as People evacuate from a American Airlines jet after a left main wheels caught fire

📌#Denver | #Colorado

Watch as passengers and crew evacuate American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, at Denver International Airport. The Miami-bound jet was forced… pic.twitter.com/RmUrXYj5Jp

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 26, 2025

This is the second aircraft fire reported from Denver International Airport in the past five months. Last March, an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route to Dallas caught fire at the airport. All 172 passengers on board were safely evacuated.