Horrific news.
A person has been killed after being struck by a Frontier Airlines aircraft during takeoff at Denver International Airport late on Friday night.
Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, was departing Denver when the collision occurred at approximately 11:19 p.m. local time.
The pedestrian was partially consumed by one of the aircraft’s engines, triggering a brief fire on board.
The plane was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members at the time of the incident.
Smoke rapidly filled the cabin, and the pilots aborted the takeoff before the situation could escalate further.
Passengers were evacuated via emergency slides after smoke filled the cabin and were bused back to the airport terminal.
The airport confirmed that 12 people reported minor injuries, with five of those transported to local hospitals.
One passenger, John Anthens, said he was seated by a window over the wing when he noticed a spark, followed by what he described as a big explosion in the engine area.
He said passengers began screaming as thick smoke filled the cabin, and that he and others waited on the cold runway for around an hour before buses arrived.
Another passenger, Mohamed Hassan, said the experience left him struggling to process what had happened. “Until, like, six hours after, it still felt fake,” he said. “Like, I thought I was going to wake up from a dream or something.”
He also expressed sympathy for the flight crew. “My heart goes out to the pilots because I know it’s a really heavy thing that can be on your conscience. I know it wasn’t his fault at all.”
Denver International Airport confirmed that the pedestrian had jumped the perimeter fence and was struck just two minutes later while crossing Runway 17L.
The individual, who has not been identified, is not believed to have been an airport employee.
In a statement, Frontier Airlines said: “The aircraft reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff. Smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff. Passengers were then safely evacuated via slides as a matter of precaution. We are deeply saddened by this event.”
The brief engine fire was extinguished by Denver firefighters. Runway 17L was closed while investigations got underway, though it reopened just before 11 a.m. local time on Saturday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy referred to the deceased as a “trespasser” and said local law enforcement is investigating the breach with support from the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is coordinating with the FAA, Denver airport operations, and local law enforcement as it collects information about the incident. Airport officials added that a full incident analysis will be performed in the coming days as part of a review of the airport’s perimeter security programme.
Most passengers were offered seats on a replacement Frontier flight departing at 6 a.m. Saturday, along with the option of a full refund. For many on board, however, the trauma of the night will take far longer to process.
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