Tyre Fire Forces Emergency Jet Evacuation on Denver Runway

A routine flight from Denver International Airport turned into a frightening ordeal on Saturday afternoon when a tyre fire forced the emergency evacuation of a packed passenger jet moments before takeoff.

The aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was bound for Miami, Florida when the incident occurred. As the plane was taxiing toward the runway, air traffic controllers noticed smoke and flames erupting from the aircraft’s landing gear and urgently radioed the cockpit: “You are actually on fire.”

Within seconds, the pilots brought the aircraft to a complete stop, and cabin crew launched an emergency evacuation. All 173 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated using inflatable emergency slides, though one person was hospitalized with minor injuries and five others were treated on site.

According to eyewitnesses, the trouble began with a loud bang, followed by intense shaking. “I felt the plane tilt slightly, then smelled something burning,” said one passenger. “The next thing I knew, people were shouting and smoke was creeping in through the vents.”

Video footage taken by passengers shows thick black smoke billowing from the rear left tyre, with some flames clearly visible underneath the fuselage. The situation could have escalated quickly had it not been for the swift response from both the crew and emergency personnel.

The fire triggered a brief ground stop at Denver Airport, causing widespread flight delays for roughly an hour. Airport operations resumed once the scene was cleared and the aircraft was towed off the taxiway.

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The aircraft, operated by a major U.S. carrier, has been taken out of service for inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened a formal investigation into the cause of the fire, which appears to involve the braking system and possibly an overheated or ruptured tyre. Investigators are now examining whether there were any prior mechanical warnings or maintenance issues that went unaddressed.

Boeing 737 MAX Under Renewed Scrutiny

The 737 MAX series, developed by Boeing, has been under global scrutiny since two tragic crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to a lengthy worldwide grounding of the model. Though the issue in Denver was unrelated to the MAX’s flight control software, this latest incident may renew concerns over its safety record and maintenance oversight.

Despite the panic onboard, many passengers have credited the flight attendants and pilots for maintaining order. “They acted instantly and kept us calm,” one traveller said. “The fact that we’re all standing here talking about it is a credit to them.”

A replacement aircraft was later dispatched to continue the journey to Miami, and most passengers were able to reach their destination safely by the end of the day.

This incident highlights the importance of strict aircraft maintenance, real-time monitoring, and well-drilled emergency procedures. For travellers, it serves as a stark but reassuring reminder that crews are trained to handle life-threatening scenarios.To understand more about related topics, explore: