A Frontier Airlines plane struck a person on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, leading to an engine fire and the evacuation of passengers, authorities confirmed.
Incident Details
The aircraft, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, reported hitting a pedestrian at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday, according to the Denver airport's official X account. The pilot informed air traffic control, stating, "We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire." The pilot also noted that there were 231 individuals on board and that an individual was walking across the runway.
Air traffic control responded by dispatching emergency vehicles. The pilot later reported smoke in the cabin and initiated an evacuation on the runway. Frontier Airlines confirmed that Flight 4345 was involved and that smoke was present in the cabin, leading to an aborted takeoff. It remains unclear whether the smoke was directly caused by the collision.
Passenger Evacuation
The airline stated that the plane carried 224 passengers and 7 crew members. Passengers evacuated via emergency slides and were transported by bus to the terminal. No injuries among passengers or crew have been reported.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified, and Runway 17L remains closed as investigations proceed. Neither the airport nor the airline has disclosed the condition of the pedestrian.
Recent Incidents
This incident follows a similar event at Orlando International Airport on Thursday night, where a Delta Air Lines employee died after a vehicle struck a jet bridge. Additionally, on May 3, a United Airlines plane arriving in Newark from Venice clipped a delivery truck and a light pole, causing extensive damage but only minor injuries to the truck driver. The NTSB is investigating both cases.
