Panic on Denver Airport runway: American Airlines aborts takeoff after gear malfunction; video shows passengers fleeing down slides as smoke engulfs plane

A landing gear malfunction during takeoff caused an American Airlines aircraft to abort its departure at Denver International Airport, resulting in at least one passenger injury and prompting an emergency evacuation on Saturday.

The incident occurred at 2.45 pm local time when American Airlines Flight 3023, bound for Miami, experienced technical difficulties, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration, quoted by NY Post.

Dramatic footage circulated on social media revealed passengers hurriedly evacuating via emergency slides while substantial black smoke and flames emerged from the aircraft's left rear section.

Video: People evacuate American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport after wheels caught fire

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According to Denver 7, American Airlines identified the problem as a tyre issue on their Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

The airline confirmed that all 173 passengers and six crew members successfully evacuated the aircraft.

Denver 7 reported that medical teams assessed six individuals for minor injuries, with one person requiring hospital treatment following the evacuation.