Washington - Saba:
The US Federal Aviation Administration said passengers on an American Airlines flight that took off from Denver International Airport on Saturday were evacuated after a "potential landing gear accident."
In a statement, American Airlines explained that the plane experienced a "maintenance issue" related to one of its tires prior to takeoff.
According to the airport, emergency crews at the airport and the Denver Fire Department responded to the problem, and passengers were evacuated from the runway.
According to the airport and the airline, five people were evaluated at the scene, and another person at the gate was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
American Airlines stated that the Boeing 737 Max 8 was taking off at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time for Miami International Airport, carrying 173 passengers and six crew members, according to CNN.
The airline added: "All passengers and crew members disembarked safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service for inspection by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the experience."
Passengers will depart for Miami on a replacement plane later today, according to the airline. The Federal Aviation Administration is scheduled to investigate the incident.
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