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The Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 173 passengers and six crew
members was on its way to Miami International Airport, American
said.
Video showed people sliding down the inflatable chute near the
front of the plane while clutching luggage and small children.
Some passengers, including at least one adult carrying a young
child, tripped at the end of the slide and fell onto the
concrete runway. Passengers were then taken to the terminal by
bus.
Shay Armistead, a 17-year-old from Minturn, Colorado, described
a chaotic scene.
After hearing a loud “boom,” the plane “started to violently
shake and we were drifting to the left side of the runway,”
Armistead told The Associated Press in an interview.
Armistead and her teammates on a ski racing team were on their
way from Colorado to Chile when it happened.
“I started grabbing my friend’s hands, I was like ‘Oh my God,’
and then they slammed on the brakes, and we all like went
forward and they finally brought the plane to a stop,” she said.
“It was just terrifying.”
One of the passengers was taken to a hospital with a minor
injury, American Airlines said in its statement. Five people
were evaluated for injuries at the scene but did not require
hospitalization, airport officials said.
“About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop,”
passenger Shaun Williams told KUSA-TV. “The pilot immediately
started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him
start to hit the brakes.”
Firefighters extinguished a fire on the aircraft, the Denver
Fire Department said.
“All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was
taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,”
American said.
In a statement, the FAA said it's investigating.
Armistead said she's thankful for everyone who helped her and
the other passengers, and grateful that she's safe.
“You've just got to appreciate what you're given, and I'm so
grateful that it wasn't worse," Armistead said. ___
This story corrects the spelling of a passenger’s name. She is
Shay Armistead, not Armisteaz.
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