Denver, USA – A Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by American Airlines, registered as N306SW, was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport (DEN/KDEN) on Tuesday afternoon. The aircraft was scheduled to operate flight AA3023 to Miami.
According to preliminary reports and videos shared on social media, the incident was reportedly caused by a landing gear failure. The footage shows visible flames near the left landing gear, which were quickly extinguished by airport emergency crews.
Another concerning detail in the video is that the plane’s left engine appears to be resting on the runway, raising the possibility of a tire blowout or a more severe failure in the landing gear structure. However, aviation experts caution that it’s too early to confirm any structural damage. The extremely high temperatures in Denver — around 40°C (104°F) — may have contributed to the overheating and subsequent fire.
+ Click here to watch the video
All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft. Only one person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The evacuation video also shows passengers exiting the aircraft with their personal belongings — a practice discouraged for safety reasons. A particularly striking moment captures a passenger balancing their items while carrying a child under one arm at around the 00:59 mark in the video.
+ Video: Polish Armed Forces Receive Gladius System Inspired by the War in Ukraine
In an official statement, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that “the crew of flight AA3023 reported a possible landing gear issue during the takeoff roll.” An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the incident and assess the extent of the damage to the aircraft.
Source and images: Telegram @AviaCT | X @fl360aero | @thenewarea51 | FAA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
