AA3023 Incident. DEN - MIA, July 26 2025

It is known that pax are dumbasses.

I’m more interested in the chain of events by which a takeoff ends up with the airplane sitting on the engine nacelle. Surely the ground clearance isn’t THAT low that it would go there just by the fuse plugs blowing?

Also, of course, interested in whether it was crew directed or another instance of pax panicking and going for the doors. It does looks like it’s configured for evac with the flaps and the speedbrakes down
 
The aircraft involved is N306SW. It was made when Las Vegas renamed the airport from McCarran to Harry Reid Intl.

I realize the alpha suffix is used for the AA ship number (3SW), but it is cursed for American to squat a tail number that would otherwise be used as (and had historically been) a Southwest Airlines-style registration. Cursed.
 
Roger Roger said:
I’m more interested in the chain of events by which a takeoff ends up with the airplane sitting on the engine nacelle. Surely the ground clearance isn’t THAT low that it would go there just by the fuse plugs blowing?
Click to expand...

This plane came from the CHS facility, so it is the Carolina Squat feature.

[I don't really know if that is true, but it sounded humorous.]
 
I just landed from a 2 week Japan and Tawaiian trip. First time overseas. Flew on 4 Asian airlines. All of their safety videos specifically state to leave your bags on the plane in the event of an evacuation. I don't recall seeing that on a US airline safety briefing. Maybe if those instructions were included in safety briefings, this would be less likely to occur.
 
What in tarnation?! The flight left the gate and taxied to Runway 8, lined-up and then exited at the first taxiway.

Then taxied to Runway 17L, lined-up, and again exited at the first taxiway.

Then taxied ALLL the way across the airport to finally attempt at takeoff on 34R. ADS-B data indicates a fastest reported speed of 117 kts before coming to a stop just after the first high-speed, D6.

edit: 26JUL 19:14Z through 20:16Z if yer looking for the audio.
 
KDEN 261853Z 17011G17KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 SCT220 34/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP078 T03441017 $

LiveATC audio sounds like AA did not want to use Runway 08 with the winds.

Several windshear alerts called by tower. This appears to have prompted the second abandoned line-up on Runway 17L. In the subsequent half-hour they turned the airport around. AA3023 stopped short of 34R for ~18 minutes before line-up. Tower calling wind 24008KT, then 22015KT and 19009KT in the minutes after.

KDEN 261953Z 31006KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 BKN220 35/M02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP072 T03501017 $
 
Minuteman said:
KDEN 261853Z 17011G17KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 SCT220 34/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP078 T03441017 $

LiveATC audio sounds like AA did not want to use Runway 08 with the winds.

Several windshear alerts called by tower. This appears to have prompted the second abandoned line-up on Runway 17L. In the subsequent half-hour they turned the airport around. AA3023 stopped short of 34R for ~18 minutes before line-up. Tower calling wind 24008KT, then 22015KT and 19009KT in the minutes after.

KDEN 261953Z 31006KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 BKN220 35/M02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP072 T03501017 $
Click to expand...
There must be something going there because I’m a certified hack and 11G17 xwind for takeoff doesn’t seem like a deal
 
Minuteman said:
KDEN 261853Z 17011G17KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 SCT220 34/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP078 T03441017 $

LiveATC audio sounds like AA did not want to use Runway 08 with the winds.

Several windshear alerts called by tower. This appears to have prompted the second abandoned line-up on Runway 17L. In the subsequent half-hour they turned the airport around. AA3023 stopped short of 34R for ~18 minutes before line-up. Tower calling wind 24008KT, then 22015KT and 19009KT in the minutes after.

KDEN 261953Z 31006KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 BKN220 35/M02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP072 T03501017 $
Click to expand...
I mean its Denver…since when do they care what runway we want?
 
Minuteman said:
What in tarnation?! The flight left the gate and taxied to Runway 8, lined-up and then exited at the first taxiway.

Then taxied to Runway 17L, lined-up, and again exited at the first taxiway.

Then taxied ALLL the way across the airport to finally attempt at takeoff on 34R. ADS-B data indicates a fastest reported speed of 117 kts before coming to a stop just after the first high-speed, D6.

edit: 26JUL 19:14Z through 20:16Z if yer looking for the audio.
Click to expand...
I think the attempted takeoff was on 34L. The transponder and airplane are still showing on the “planefinder” app.
 
Minuteman said:
KDEN 261853Z 17011G17KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 SCT220 34/M02 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP078 T03441017 $

LiveATC audio sounds like AA did not want to use Runway 08 with the winds.

Several windshear alerts called by tower. This appears to have prompted the second abandoned line-up on Runway 17L. In the subsequent half-hour they turned the airport around. AA3023 stopped short of 34R for ~18 minutes before line-up. Tower calling wind 24008KT, then 22015KT and 19009KT in the minutes after.

KDEN 261953Z 31006KT 10SM SCT120 SCT180 BKN220 35/M02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP072 T03501017 $
Click to expand...

This is going to read exactly as the United blown tire report a few months back in Denver. I’ll bet on it.
 
arkavgal said:
I just landed from a 2 week Japan and Tawaiian trip. First time overseas. Flew on 4 Asian airlines. All of their safety videos specifically state to leave your bags on the plane in the event of an evacuation. I don't recall seeing that on a US airline safety briefing. Maybe if those instructions were included in safety briefings, this would be less likely to occur.
Click to expand...
US carriers absolutely have been including that instruction for years.

Current United safety video (about a year old) starting at the relevant section

View: https://youtu.be/Jep3RR2yEXA?feature=shared&t=118

A current AA video

View: https://youtu.be/pj6wJiJuNds?feature=shared&t=92

Delta (2 years ago)

View: https://youtu.be/gM2_sSHML3w?feature=shared&t=112


And a version for united from 17 years ago, again relevant section linked

View: https://youtu.be/sqS70iblfSQ?feature=shared&t=194

AA (15 years ago)

View: https://youtu.be/lMJAD7984PU?feature=shared&t=153
 
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