The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is gathering information about the emergency evacuation of a Frontier Airlines plane that struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff. The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 11:19 p.m. as the aircraft, en route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, was accelerating for departure.
Evacuation and Injuries
Passengers were evacuated via emergency slides, and airport crews bused them to the terminal. An airport spokesperson confirmed that 12 passengers sustained minor injuries, with five requiring hospitalisation. The spokesperson did not specify how the injuries occurred, but some passengers expressed concerns about the evacuation process, reporting that they were stuck inside the plane for several minutes as smoke filled the cabin and later left on the cold tarmac.
NTSB Investigation
NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick stated on Sunday that the agency is collecting details about the evacuation to determine whether it meets the criteria for a formal safety investigation. She indicated that more information might be available within a few hours. Frontier Airlines has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the evacuation procedures.
Pedestrian and Security Breach
The pedestrian, who has not been identified, was struck two minutes after jumping a perimeter fence and crossing the runway. Authorities believe the individual was not an airport employee. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X that the person deliberately breached airport security by scaling a fence and running onto the runway, emphasising that no one should ever trespass on an airport.
Pilot's Account
According to audio from the site ATC.com, the pilot informed the control tower: "We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire." The pilot also reported having 231 souls on board and that an individual was walking across the runway. The air traffic controller responded by rolling emergency vehicles, after which the pilot declared smoke in the aircraft and initiated an evacuation on the runway.
Airline Statement
Frontier Airlines confirmed that flight 4345 was involved in the collision, carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. The airline stated that smoke was reported in the cabin, prompting the pilots to abort takeoff. It remains unclear whether the smoke was directly linked to the collision. Frontier said it is investigating the incident in coordination with airport and safety authorities.
Separate Incident
The Denver incident occurred a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on duty at Orlando International Airport. Delta released a statement expressing support for the employee's family and the Orlando team, and is cooperating with local authorities in the investigation.
