A Frontier Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport after reportedly striking a pedestrian late Friday night. The engine caught fire and smoke filled the aircraft, prompting an emergency evacuation.
Incident Details
The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. on the runway. In a recording obtained by ABC News, the pilot is heard telling air traffic control: 'Tower, Frontier 4345, we're stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire.' Later, the pilot added: 'We've got smoke on the aircraft, we're gonna evacuate on the runway.'
Passenger Evacuation
The plane carried 224 passengers and seven crew members. All 231 individuals evacuated using emergency slides. Emergency services extinguished the fire, and passengers were bused to the terminal. One passenger suffered minor injuries, according to ABC News.
Official Statements
Frontier Airlines expressed deep sadness over the event, stating: 'We are deeply saddened by this event. We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.' Denver International Airport confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and that Runway 17L remains closed for investigation.
The flight was scheduled to land at Los Angeles International Airport at 12:16 a.m. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
