DENVER (KDVR) — New footage captures the turmoil that occurred after an urgent evacuation on an American Airlines flight at Denver International Airport on Saturday.
The aircraft was in the process of departing at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Saturday when passengers aboard noticed an issue with the Boeing 737 Max.
Videos show the terrifying events that occurred both inside and outside the plane as passengers and crew members rushed to evacuate. You can observe individuals using emergency slides, rushing away with their bags, while flames and smoke are visible rising from beneath the aircraft.
They are putting themselves at risk,” said aviation expert Steve Cowell. “They are also endangering the lives of other passengers. At the very least, they will likely exit the plane more slowly than they would have without the carry-on bags. They might even get hurt. They are slowing down the evacuation process because we don’t know if the plane will be completely on fire.
Cowell brought up the 1983 Air Canada Flight 797, when an in-flight fire resulted in an emergency plane landing. He said to FOX31 that within less than 90 seconds after touching down, the aircraft was completely on fire, leading to the death of 23 individuals.
Anything you can do to leave that airplane and get as far away from it as possible after evacuating,” Cowell said. “You’ll be helping to save your own life, as well as the lives of those around you.
According to American Airlines, 173 passengers and six crew members were evacuated from American Airlines Flight 3023 on Saturday.following a landing gear issue during takeoff.
The company states that the aircraft faced a maintenance problem related to a tire.
The fire in Denver was put out, and one passenger was hospitalized with a slight injury.
These are extremely hazardous situations when a tire blowout occurs,” said Pablo Rojas, an aviation attorney with Podhurst Orseck. “The main point is that these incidents shouldn’t ever happen. I’ve represented victims in a comparable crash because when you get on an airplane, this should never be a possibility.
The Federal Aviation Administration is still looking into the matter.
If a plane weighing between 150,000 and 175,000 pounds is constantly hitting the runway during landings, it will inevitably cause wear each time,” Cowell stated. “Therefore, you’re always monitoring the wheels and tires, and what they will be experiencing.
Cowell states to FOX31 that every detail of this event will be examined, including when the tires were last replaced and the conduct during the evacuation.
They will be examining how the flight attendants managed the evacuation and the interaction between the pilots and the flight attendants,” Cowell stated. “All of this is aimed at enhancing what might occur in the future.
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