DENVER (AP) — Passengers used an emergency slide to evacuate a smoking aircraft at Denver’s airport due to a possible landing gear issue, authorities reported.
The FAA stated that American Airlines Flight 3023 experienced a “possible landing gear incident” during its departure from Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was en route to Miami International Airport.
Local media footage captured people sliding down the inflatable chute near the plane’s front, holding onto luggage and small children. Some passengers, including one adult with a young child, stumbled at the slide’s end and landed on the concrete runway tarmac. They were subsequently transported to the terminal by bus.
One of the passengers was transported to a medical facility, authorities said. Five people were evaluated for injuries at the scene but did not require hospitalization, Denver International Airport officials said in a statement.
“About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop,” passenger Shaun Williams told KUSA-TV. “The pilot immediately started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him start to hit the brakes.”
Firefighters called to the airport extinguished a fire after responding to the aircraft, the Denver Fire Department said.
In a statement, the FAA said it will investigate.
