American Airlines passengers evacuated after plane catches fire during takeoff
- An American Airlines flight was evacuated using emergency slides in Denver after a tire blew out during takeoff.
- The FAA is investigating the incident.
- Experts reiterate the importance of leaving belongings behind during an evacuation for safety and efficiency.
Passengers aboard an American Airlines flight from Denver to Miami were forced to evacuate using the emergency slides after their aircraft experienced a mechanical issue during its takeoff roll on Saturday, July 26.
According to the airline, a tire blew while flight 3023 was preparing for takeoff. The plane then rapidly decelerated on the runway, which resulted in "a minor isolated brake fire that was quickly extinguished by the Denver Fire Department."
Social media video shows passengers coming down the slides and running away from the Boeing 737 Max 8.
American Airlines said all 173 passengers and six crewmembers were evacuated safely, although the airline acknowledged that one passenger was transported to the hospital for further evaluation of a minor injury.
"All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team," the airline said in a statement. "We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience."
According to American Airlines, all passengers were accommodated on another flight using a replacement aircraft later in the day.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it is investigating the incident.
Video of the evacuation also shows many passengers taking their belongings with them during the evacuation, which is not advisable.
"During an evacuation, seconds matter. The time you take to grab something from in front of you or from the overhead compartment, it’s wasting time, and that time could result in a fatality," Anthony Brickhouse, director of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Forensic Lab previously told Paste BN. "It creates clutter, and it could damage the slide, which can make it inoperable … The most important thing is to get yourself out of that aircraft as quickly as possible."
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for Paste BN. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.