A terrifying scene unfolded on the runway at Denver International Airport over the weekend, and for passengers heading on vacation, the trip of a lifetime just turned into something straight out of a disaster movie.
American Airlines Flight 1685, scheduled to depart Denver for Charlotte, North Carolina, aborted takeoff when its landing gear malfunctioned, sparking a fire beneath the aircraft. Smoke began to fill the cabin, triggering a full emergency evacuation via inflatable slides as passengers ran for their lives across the tarmac.
The plane in question? A Boeing 737 MAX 8 — an aircraft that’s already had its share of headlines in recent years.
Take a closer look of what happened below, in X user Krithi Sharma’s post:
“Another scary Boeing 737 MAX 8 incident 😟
American Airlines Flight 3023 caught fire on the runway at Denver after a tire issue (July 26, 2025). 173 passengers + 6 crew evacuated safely, 1 hospitalized.
What’s going on with all these plane accidents lately? 🤔✈️”
Another scary Boeing 737 MAX 8 incident 😟
American Airlines Flight 3023 caught fire on the runway at Denver after a tire issue (July 26, 2025). 173 passengers + 6 crew evacuated safely, 1 hospitalized.
What’s going on with all these plane accidents lately? 🤔✈️ pic.twitter.com/j0jSvOm9Bz
— Krithi Sharma (@krithi_sharma) July 27, 2025
Here’s What Happened
The flight, carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, was gearing up for takeoff just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. But something didn’t feel right. According to media reports, the plane had already flagged a maintenance issue involving a tire before it even left the gate.
While accelerating down the runway, pilots detected a mechanical problem and aborted the takeoff. Seconds later, smoke started rising. That’s when chaos kicked in.
The emergency slides deployed, and passengers were ordered off the plane. Footage shared on social media shows thick smoke pouring from the landing gear and passengers sprinting across the hot runway, some barefoot, some holding carry-ons, all visibly shaken.
Passengers Evacuated, Fire Responders Swarm Tarmac
Emergency crews from Denver Fire and airport response teams were on the scene within minutes. American Airlines later confirmed that all passengers and crew were safely evacuated and taken by bus back to the terminal.
At least five people were evaluated for injuries, and one passenger was transported to the hospital with what authorities described as a minor injury.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
Disney Dreams, Delayed
So what does this have to do with Disney? A lot.
This flight was a connector. Many guests were using the Denver-to-Charlotte leg to reach Orlando, with theme park itineraries packed full of non-refundable dining reservations, Lightning Lane Multi Passes, and hard-to-get virtual queue entries. Now, they’re dealing with disrupted travel plans, missed experiences, and in some cases, entire days lost from tightly scheduled vacations.
With airline disruptions becoming alarmingly frequent, a growing number of Disney-bound travelers are asking the same thing: Is it even safe to fly right now?
2025: The Summer of Airline Fires?
Unfortunately, this incident is far from isolated. 2025 has seen a spike in aircraft-related fire scares, and not just in the U.S.
Let’s break down the pattern:
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Virgin Australia (July 22) – Mid-flight battery fire from a power bank causes panic and smoke onboard. One passenger required medical attention.
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Air Busan (January) – Fire ignites in an overhead bin during taxiing due to a personal electronic device. Passengers injured while escaping via slides.
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Delta Air Lines (Mid-July) – A 767 taking off from LAX suffered a dramatic engine fire, forcing an emergency landing.
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Hong Kong Airlines (March) – Another lithium battery fire onboard, prompting an emergency diversion and full cabin evacuation.
Whether it’s overheating brakes, tire blowouts, or consumer devices bursting into flames, aviation experts are sounding alarms.
And during the peak of the summer season — when flights are full of families, strollers, and first-time flyers — the impact is magnified.
What You Can Do Before You Fly to Disney
If you’ve got a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or even a Disney Cruise coming up, here’s the takeaway: plan like your flight might get delayed, or worse — canceled.
Smart steps Disney travelers should take now:
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Fly in early: Give yourself at least one buffer day between your flight and your first park reservation or cruise check-in.
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Avoid tight layovers: If your flight gets disrupted, long layovers could save your vacation.
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Travel insurance is essential: Make sure it covers not just cancellations, but trip delays and missed excursions.
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Pack carry-ons wisely: No loose lithium batteries, no unprotected power banks, and don’t bury critical devices in overhead bins.
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Download your airline app: Be ready to rebook instantly if your flight gets scrapped.
And if you do get stuck? Disney Guest Services can sometimes help reschedule certain experiences, but not all. Be prepared to advocate for yourself.
It doesn’t matter how many Genie+ hacks you’ve saved on Instagram — if your plane catches fire before takeoff, your Disney trip is in jeopardy before it even begins.
With mechanical incidents and mid-air scares happening across multiple airlines in 2025, this is a problem no theme park fan can ignore. The magic of Main Street USA will be waiting… but only after you make it to Orlando safely.
