Passengers flee smoking American Airlines jet in Denver after aborted takeoff

Passengers evacuated an American Airlines jet at Denver International Airport on emergency slides after the landing gear caught fire during an aborted takeoff, sending black smoke billowing into the air.

One of the 173 passengers was hospitalized with minor injuries while exiting the Boeing 737 MAX 8 that had been due to fly to Miami International Airport on Saturday, according to officials.

A video shared with NBC News by a passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, showed the aircraft gathering speed on the runway — before a loud bang was heard followed by strong vibrations and the plane stopping. Meanwhile a round piece of debris was seen rolling from underneath the plane and off the side of the runway.

"I heard a loud boom so I knew something blew up under the plane," passenger Mark Tsurkis told NBC News. "I said, 'That's not good,' and right away the captain started slowing the plane down. Then somebody said, 'Look!' So we looked on the left side, in the window, and we see one of the wheels of the plane" rolling away.