Deadly crash, fire scare, mayday call: Boeing under fire after spate of air incidents, latest in Denver

Denver: A Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by American Airlines caught fire on the runway of Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon, prompting an emergency evacuation.

The incident occurred when flight AA-3023, bound for Miami, was forced to abort takeoff after the landing gear reportedly malfunctioned, causing a tyre to ignite. However, the incident has renewed public scrutiny of Boeing’s 737 MAX series, which has been plagued by safety concerns in recent years—and particularly in recent months.

Dramatic footage captured plumes of thick smoke and flames engulfing the aircraft’s rear as passengers escaped via emergency slides. Authorities confirmed that all 173 passengers and crew were safely evacuated, though one person sustained minor injuries.

The fire was fully extinguished by 5:10 p.m. local time, according to the Denver Fire Department. American Airlines has since stated the aircraft was removed from service for inspection due to a “maintenance issue with a tyre.” The FAA has launched an investigation.

Between June and July 2025, Boeing aircraft have been involved in several high-profile and alarming incidents worldwide. These include the deadliest air disaster in India’s aviation history, involving a Dreamliner, and serious technical failures in the US, Japan, and South America.

1. Air India Flight 171 Crash (Ahmedabad, June 12)

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London. The crash killed 241 people, including 230 passengers, 12 crew, and 19 people on the ground. The only survivor was a medical student from Bihar. Preliminary findings indicated that both fuel control switches were manually or mistakenly set to "cutoff", leading to catastrophic engine failure within 32 seconds of takeoff. This marks the first-ever fatal crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

2. Japan Airlines Boeing 737-800 Rapid Descent (June 30)

A Boeing 737-800 operating from Shanghai to Tokyo underwent a terrifying 26,000-foot emergency descent after a pressurisation alert triggered onboard systems. Oxygen masks were deployed, and the plane diverted safely to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. No injuries were reported.

3. Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Mayday & Diversions (July 7)

A Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 flying from Frankfurt to Buenos Aires had to make two diversions, including a rare “Mayday” call near the South American coast. The exact nature of the technical malfunction has not been disclosed, but the flight was rerouted to São Paulo safely. No injuries were reported, but the incident is under investigation.

4. American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 Fire Panic (Denver, July 26)

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 scheduled to depart Denver for Miami aborted takeoff after a possible landing gear/tire malfunction caused smoke and panic. Passengers were evacuated using slides. One person was hospitalised, and six suffered minor injuries. A video of the incident showing smoke emerging from the aircraft circulated widely online.