Panic on the Runway: Tire Explosion Sparks Fire, Evacuation on American Airlines Flight
A terrifying scene unfolded Saturday at Denver International Airport when an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was forced to evacuate 173 passengers and six crew members after a “possible landing gear incident” ignited a brake fire. According to the FAA, the plane was preparing for takeoff to Miami when a tire blew out, causing severe vibrations, a loud bang, and visible flames under the aircraft.
“It was kind of traumatizing,” said 17-year-old Shay Armistead, who was heading to Chile with her ski team. Her teammate, 16-year-old Margaret Gustafson, saw the fire from her window and immediately panicked. “That’s when I started fully panicking,” she said.
As emergency crews responded, chaos erupted inside the cabin. “One passenger was screaming, ‘We’re all gonna die,’” Armistead recalled. Some passengers froze, while others rushed to the rear to evacuate via the inflatable slide.
The incident lasted about 15 minutes, with five passengers treated on scene and one taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The plane was removed from service, and passengers were rebooked on a replacement flight.
This marks yet another disturbing event at Denver’s airport, following a string of recent mechanical scares. The FAA has launched an investigation into the incident.
American Airlines issued a statement thanking the crew for their professionalism and apologizing to passengers:
“We regret the experience and are fully cooperating with authorities.”
BREAKING 🅱️
An American Airlines plane has caught fire at Denver International Airport..
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) July 27, 2025
