The Kashmir DialoguesDenver, July 27 (TKD): Panic gripped passengers aboard an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 on Saturday afternoon when the aircraft caught fire moments before takeoff at Denver International Airport, prompting a mass evacuation via emergency slides.
Flight 2341, bound for Miami, was taxiing on the runway around 2:45 p.m. local time when a suspected mechanical failure in the landing gear sparked a tire fire. Thick plumes of black smoke quickly engulfed the plane, forcing the crew to deploy emergency slides as 173 passengers and six crew members rushed to safety.
Witnesses described the tense moments inside the cabin as smoke seeped in, with passengers shouting and scrambling toward the exits. Emergency teams from the Denver Fire Department arrived within minutes, extinguishing the blaze while leading evacuees away from the aircraft.
American Airlines confirmed that five individuals were treated for minor injuries at the scene, with one passenger transported to a local hospital.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation, initially labeling it a “possible landing gear incident.” American Airlines later stated the fire may have been triggered by a maintenance issue involving a tire prior to takeoff.
Photos and videos from the scene flooded social media, showing dramatic images of passengers fleeing down the slides as smoke poured from the plane.
