Poonam Nath

American Airlines Flight AA-3023 caught fire on the runway in Denver

Digital Desk: Major tragedy averted at the Denver airport on Saturday, a landing gear issue caused smoke and fire on the runway, forcing an American Airlines flight to abort takeoff.

It's been reportedly stated that all 173 passengers were safely evacuated after an emergency evacuation. According to authorities, one person was slightly hurt.

At the time of the incident, AA-3023, flown by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was headed for Miami. The airline later claimed that it had a tire maintenance issue.

While the landing gear was seen burning, the terrified passengers were seen slipping out of the aircraft in dramatic rescue footage. One by one, the passengers emerged, filling the room with smoke.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the plane reported a potential landing gear incident while taking off from the Denver airport at approximately 2:45 p.m. (local time). The passengers were evacuated on the runway and taken by bus to the terminal.

Further probe is underway, stated the FAA regarding the incident.