Incident Overview
A Frontier Airlines aircraft struck a person on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, resulting in an engine fire and the evacuation of passengers, according to authorities.
The flight, destined for Los Angeles, reported the collision with a pedestrian at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday, as stated on the official Denver airport X account.
The condition of the individual involved has not been disclosed by either the airport or the airline.
Communication During Incident
During the event, the pilot communicated with the control tower, stating:
“We’re stopping on the runway. We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot further informed air traffic control that there were “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”
The air traffic controller responded promptly:
“Rolling the trucks now.”
Subsequently, the pilot reported:
“We have smoke in the aircraft.”
and added:
“We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Airline Statement and Passenger Evacuation
Frontier Airlines identified the flight involved as Flight 4345 and confirmed that the pilots aborted takeoff after smoke was reported in the cabin. It remains unclear whether the smoke was directly related to the collision with the person.
The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, according to the airline. Frontier Airlines stated they are conducting an investigation in coordination with the airport and relevant safety authorities.
Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides, and emergency crews transported them by bus to the terminal.
Airport Response and Investigation
Denver International Airport announced that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified. The runway where the incident occurred, 17L, will remain closed during the ongoing investigation.
Related Incidents
This incident at Denver occurred one day after a fatal accident at Orlando International Airport, where a Delta Airlines employee died on Thursday night after a vehicle struck a jet bridge adjacent to an airplane with passengers onboard, as reported by local news outlets.
Additionally, on May 3, a United Airlines aircraft arriving in Newark, New Jersey, from Venice, Italy, was involved in a collision with a delivery truck and a light pole, which subsequently struck a Jeep. The delivery truck driver was the only person injured. The plane sustained extensive damage, and the NTSB classified the event as an accident and opened an investigation.
