A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate, airport authorities confirmed.
Incident Details
According to a statement from Denver International Airport, the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway. The pedestrian is deceased and is not believed to be an employee of the airport; their identity has not yet been established.
ABC News reported, citing an official, that the person was at least partially consumed by one of the engines.
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321, bound for Los Angeles, carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, according to Frontier Airlines.
Pilot Communication
Audio from ATC.com captured the pilot of Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 telling air traffic controllers at 11:19 p.m. on Friday: "We're stopping on the runway, we just hit somebody, we have an engine fire... There was an individual walking across the runway."
The air traffic controller responded that they were "rolling the trucks now," after which the pilot reported smoke in the aircraft and announced an evacuation on the runway.
Evacuation and Injuries
The plane was quickly evacuated. Twelve passengers reported minor injuries, and five were transported to local hospitals, the airport said.
The Denver Fire Department confirmed that a brief engine fire was extinguished.
Investigation
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that local law enforcement is investigating the incident. He wrote on X: "No one should EVER trespass on an airport."
The airport authority examined the fence line and found it to be intact. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified, and the runway involved, 17L, will remain closed during the investigation.
A poll question was posed: Should additional barriers be implemented around airport perimeters? Options included yes to enhance safety, no as unnecessary, or only if similar incidents increase.
