Passengers were forced to evacuate an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Denver International Airport (DEN) after a tire caught fire while still on the ground.
The incident occurred at 14:25 local time, as flight AA3023 was preparing to depart for Miami International Airport (MIA) with 173 passengers and six crew onboard.
Passengers reported hearing a loud bang followed by strong vibrations right before the evacuation order was issued.
Dramatic footage of the evacuation, which was captured on camera by those at the scene, shows fire and heavy smoke next to the aircraft’s undercarriage as passengers slide down to the ground while being helped by staff on the ground.
One person reportedly suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.
The blaze, which affected the left side of the main landing gear, was quickly extinguished by the airport’s fire service.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident, which the airline blamed on a maintenance issue.