An American Airlines jet caught fire at Denver International Airport this weekend, forcing an evacuation.
According to reports, the left main landing gear on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was the site of an explosion while Flight 3023 was preparing to leave for Miami. Shortly before the planned takeoff, passengers heard a “loud boom,” with flames and smoke seen near the back of the aircraft.
The pilot aborted takeoff, while emergency slides were deployed for evacuation. The Denver Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze.
The jet was later inspected, and it was revealed that a tire issue was the root of the incident.
You can see a video of the emergency evaluation below:
Several flights were delayed due to the incident. Passengers from American Airlines Flight 3023 were put on another plane.
The 173 passengers and six crew members were all evacuated safely, but one person was hospitalized with minor injuries and five were evaluated on-site.
An investigation is currently underway, with the FAA having launched a probe.
