Pedestrian dies after being hit by Frontier plane at Denver airport

A Frontier Airlines aircraft struck and killed a pedestrian who had trespassed onto a runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff Friday night, triggering an engine fire and forcing an emergency evacuation of all passengers.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:19 p.m. as Flight 4345, bound for Los Angeles International Airport, was beginning its takeoff roll. Airport authorities confirmed the pedestrian had illegally accessed the airfield by jumping a perimeter fence just two minutes before the collision.

“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot reported to air traffic control, according to recordings published on ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot further advised controllers that the aircraft was carrying “231 souls” and that “an individual was walking across the runway.” As the situation deteriorated, the pilot added, “We have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Airport emergency response teams immediately mobilized to the scene. Frontier Airlines confirmed in a statement that smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted the takeoff. The airline did not explicitly state whether the smoke was directly related to the collision.

The 224 passengers and seven crew members evacuated the aircraft using emergency slides. Denver International Airport spokesperson confirmed that 12 passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process, with five requiring transport to local hospitals for treatment.

The pedestrian, who has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Airport officials stated the individual was not believed to be an airport employee, raising questions about security protocols at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

“We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities,” Frontier Airlines said in their statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and has initiated an investigation into the incident. Runway 17L, where the collision occurred, was temporarily closed for approximately 12 hours, reopening Saturday around 11 a.m.

This incident raises serious concerns about airport perimeter security and runway incursions. Denver International Airport, which handles over 69 million passengers annually, is the third-busiest airport in the United States. The airport’s 53-square-mile footprint makes perimeter security particularly challenging.

Aviation safety experts note that runway incursions represent a significant safety concern for the aviation industry. The Federal Aviation Administration has previously identified unauthorized individuals accessing runways as a critical security vulnerability at airports nationwide.

In a tragic coincidence, the Denver incident occurred just one day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on duty at Orlando International Airport. Delta confirmed the Thursday night death but provided few details about the circumstances.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” Delta said in a statement. “We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

The back-to-back airport fatalities highlight the ongoing challenges in maintaining safety across America’s complex aviation infrastructure. While commercial aviation maintains an impressive safety record for passengers, ground operations continue to present significant risks to both airport personnel and, in rare cases like Denver, unauthorized individuals who breach security measures.

Denver International Airport officials indicated they would review security protocols following the incident. Frontier Airlines, headquartered in Denver, operates a fleet of over 110 aircraft, primarily serving destinations across the United States and select international locations.