DENVER (BN24) — Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight were forced to evacuate using emergency slides after the plane aborted takeoff at Denver International Airport on Saturday due to a reported issue with its landing gear. One person was transported to a hospital with minor injuries, officials said.
The incident involved American Airlines Flight 3023, which was bound for Miami when it experienced what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) described as a “possible landing gear incident during departure.” The FAA confirmed it is now investigating.
According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft—a Boeing 737 Max 8—reached a takeoff speed of 127 knots (nearly 150 mph) before the pilot called off the departure. In air traffic control audio obtained from LiveATC.net, the pilot informed the tower, “We’re aborting on the runway,” to which the controller replied, “You got a lot of smoke.” The controller then added, “There was some flames—it looks like the smoke’s kind of dying down a bit.”
Following the aborted takeoff, 173 passengers and six crew members exited the plane onto the runway using inflatable emergency slides. Video footage showed passengers sliding down and being escorted to safety by emergency crews. Buses transported the evacuees back to the terminal.
The Denver Fire Department responded quickly, extinguishing flames observed from the aircraft. Denver International Airport reported that six people were evaluated by medical personnel, and one individual was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In a statement, American Airlines said the aircraft has been taken out of service for inspection, and passengers would be rebooked on a replacement flight to Miami later Saturday. “We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience,” the airline said.
The aborted takeoff and emergency evacuation come amid ongoing safety concerns surrounding Boeing aircraft. The FAA’s investigation will focus on the aircraft’s landing gear systems and any mechanical or procedural issues that may have contributed to the emergency.
