An American Airlines flight preparing for departure from Denver International Airport had to abort takeoff after one of its tyres caught fire on the runway. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon and involved a Boeing 737 aircraft scheduled to fly to Dallas-Fort Worth.

According to airline officials, the pilots noticed an issue just before the aircraft was set to leave the ground. The crew quickly applied emergency brakes, and the ground team spotted smoke and fire coming from one of the main landing gear tyres. As a precaution, all passengers were evacuated using the emergency slides.

There were around 160 passengers and six crew members on board at the time. Emergency services responded swiftly, and the fire was brought under control within minutes. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, although a few passengers were treated for minor discomfort, mostly due to the rapid evacuation process.

American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft would undergo a full inspection and that affected passengers would be rebooked on later flights. The airline also thanked passengers for their cooperation during the emergency.

Such incidents, though rare, remind us of the importance of strict safety protocols and quick decision-making by pilots and crew. Airport operations resumed shortly after the aircraft was towed off the runway, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a routine investigation.