Terror as American Airlines Jet Erupts in Flames at Denver Airport (Video)

A fiery blast, screams of panic, and an emergency runway evacuation — that was the terrifying reality for more than 170 people aboard an American Airlines flight Saturday when a landing gear malfunction triggered a fire on the runway at Denver International Airport.

What was supposed to be a routine takeoff to Miami turned into a nightmare when the Boeing 737 MAX 8’s tire reportedly blew out during acceleration, sending the aircraft into a violent shake and then a brake-engulfed blaze. One passenger was hospitalized, five others were medically evaluated, and all 173 passengers plus six crew were forced to evacuate onto the tarmac using emergency slides.

“We started tilting. The plane shook. Then came the flames,” said 17-year-old Shay Armistead, still visibly shaken after the incident. “People were screaming, ‘We’re all gonna die.’ It was traumatizing.”

The explosion occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time, more than an hour after the plane’s scheduled 1:12 p.m. departure. FAA officials are investigating what they’re calling a “possible landing gear incident” that triggered the emergency response.

“I saw flames out the window,” said Margaret Gustafson, 16, Armistead’s teammate on a Colorado-based ski team heading to Santiago, Chile. “When we heard the boom and felt the swerve, we didn’t know if we’d make it.”

Armistead said the plane “started vibrating and shaking really bad” before grinding to a halt. “The brakes slammed. It felt like the plane was falling apart.”

Chaos broke out inside the cabin. Some passengers were crying, others frozen in fear. One refused to sit down, slowing the evacuation.

“The panic was real,” said Armistead. “No one really knew what was going on.”

Fire crews from the Denver Fire Department rushed to the scene and quickly extinguished the brake fire. All passengers and crew were evacuated in about 15 minutes.

Saturday’s scare marks the third major aviation emergency at Denver International Airport in recent months:

• In March, another American Airlines jet caught fire mid-runway, forcing passengers to climb out onto the wing.
• In April, a United Airlines plane struck an animal during takeoff, resulting in a fiery blast.
• Just a day before Saturday’s incident, a Southwest Airlines flight narrowly avoided collision when a fighter jet crossed within a few hundred feet of its altitude.

Aviation experts say Denver’s rapid growth and high traffic — it’s currently the sixth busiest airport in the world — may be contributing to rising safety concerns.

In a statement, American Airlines thanked first responders and apologized to passengers.

“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the airline said. “We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience.”

Passengers were later rebooked on a replacement flight. Armistead and her team will resume their journey to Chile Sunday morning.

The FAA confirmed it is actively investigating the cause of the mechanical failure. FlightAware data showed more than 240 flights were delayed at Denver International Airport on Saturday, further snarling air traffic as the airport dealt with the fallout.

For passengers on board, it’s an experience they won’t soon forget.

“It felt like something out of a movie,” said Gustafson. “But it was real. And we were lucky.”