Pilot reports Frontier Airlines flight hits person on runway at Denver airport
A Frontier Airlines flight struck and killed a person walking on the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night, according to the airline and airport.
A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles struck and killed a person walking on the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night, according to the airline and airport.
The plane for Flight 4345, which was en route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday,” the airport’s official X account wrote.
In a later statement, Denver Airport said the pedestrian jumped a fence and trespassed onto the tarmac. They were hit by the plane about 2 minutes later and died as a result. Details on that individual, such as their name, age or gender, have not been released.
Footage posted to social media by a passenger appears to capture the moment of impact during take-off. A loud crashing sound can be heard, followed by screams from passengers inside the plane.
In audio traffic control recordings, the pilot can be heard saying the engine caught fire and smoke was in the aircraft before telling ATC the plane had to be evacuated on the runway.
“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
Out of precaution, the passengers used slides to evacuate, Frontier Airlines said in a statement. Twelve people reported having minor injuries and of those individuals, five were hospitalized, according to Denver Airport.
“We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities,” the Frontier statement read, in part. “We are deeply saddened by this event.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is also investigating the incident.
The Airbus A321 had 224 passengers and seven crew members on board, according to Frontier.
Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted.
The Associated Press and NBC News contributed to this report
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