On July 26, 2025, American Airlines Flight AA3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 headed to Miami, had to abort its takeoff at Denver International Airport (DEN) because of a landing gear tire malfunction. This issue resulted in a fire and smoke on the runway. Fortunately, all 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated, with only one minor injury reported.
At approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, Flight AA3023 experienced a potential landing gear incident during takeoff from Runway 34L, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The issue, later identified by American Airlines as a tire maintenance problem, resulted in a fire that filled the runway with smoke. The Denver Fire Department extinguished the flames by 5:10 p.m. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides and were then transported to the terminal by bus.
Videos shared on X showed passengers sliding down emergency chutes as smoke filled the aircraft, with flames visible near the landing gear. One passenger faced criticism for carrying luggage in one hand and holding a child in the other during the evacuation, which caused them to stumble and fall. Denver Airport reported that five people were evaluated on-site, and one individual was transported for a minor injury.
🚨Panic at Denver Airport as American Airlines Flight 3023's left main wheel bursts into flames during takeoff!
Terrified passengers evacuated the Boeing 737 MAX 8 as smoke filled the runway. One hospitalized — disaster narrowly avoided.
Boeing Nightmare Continues! pic.twitter.com/j8lNBVIVm7
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) July 27, 2025American Airlines and FAA Response
American Airlines reported, “The aircraft experienced a maintenance issue with a tire. All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the plane has been taken out of service for inspection.” The airline arranged a replacement flight to Miami. The FAA has confirmed that it is investigating the cause of the incident, marking it as the second American Airlines occurrence at Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2025, following a March engine fire on Flight 1006.
The incident raises further concerns about aviation safety, particularly regarding the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which has been subject to scrutiny in the past. However, no systemic flaws have been confirmed in this case. In March, a separate incident in Denver involved an engine fire on a Boeing 737-800, leading to the evacuation of 172 passengers, CBS News reported. The FAA’s investigation will examine factors related to maintenance and operations.
The rapid evacuation of Flight AA3023 ensured passenger safety, despite a fire involving the landing gear. The FAA’s investigation will clarify the causes as public attention focuses on aviation reliability.
