An unsettling incident unfolded on a Frontier Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles when it fatally struck a person on the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night. The unexpected tragedy left passengers and crew members in shock.
According to a statement from Denver International Airport, the individual had reportedly ‘jumped the perimeter fence’ near the runway. Just two minutes later, at 11:19 p.m. local time, the person was hit by the approaching aircraft.
The unidentified person, who authorities believe was not an airport employee, tragically lost their life in the accident. Details regarding their identity remain unknown at this time.
ABC News reported that the individual was at least partially ingested by one of the engines of Frontier Flight 4345. Photographs that surfaced on social media, which have not been published by the Daily Mail, showed visible blood on the affected engine of the Airbus A321.
Among the passengers was Mohamed Hassan, who recounted the harrowing experience in an interview with NBC’s Denver affiliate KUSA. “Honestly, it was the scariest experience of my life,” Hassan expressed. “I was on the flight and I looked to my right and I just saw a fire, I heard a loud boom, and people started screaming.”
‘Honestly it was the scariest experience of my life,’ he said. ‘I was on the flight and I looked to my right and I just saw a fire, I heard a loud boom, people started screaming.’
‘I thought I was going to die,’ he said.
Hassan added that he and the others on board were stuck on the plane for about three minutes before the evacuation began. He said he inhaled ‘a lot of toxic fumes’ and that passengers were screaming.
A Frontier Airlines flight collided with a pedestrian during takeoff at Denver International Airport on Friday night. The aftermath of the crash is pictured
A child escapes to safety by sliding down the emergency slide of the aircraft after the collision on Runway 17L
Passengers, including children, huddle near the engine. It is unclear if the pedestrian struck this engine or the one on the other side of the aircraft
Videos posted to social media showed passengers escaping from the cabin via the emergency slides. In one clip, a child could be seen jumping on to the slide. All 224 passengers and seven crew members got off the plane by slide.
There were at least 12 minor injuries among those on the aircraft and five people were transported to local hospitals. The rest of the passengers were bussed to the terminal and have since left on a new Frontier flight.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy described the person who was hit as a ‘trespasser’ who breached airport security before deliberately scaling the fence. Officials who examined the fence said it was intact.
Duffy added on X: ‘No one should EVER trespass on an airport.’
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Frontier Airlines confirmed the event and said it was investigating what happened.
Air traffic control audio from ATC.com picked up the crew speaking about the incident.
‘Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire,’ the pilot was heard saying.
When asked how many people were on board, the pilot said: ‘We have 231 souls on board… There was an individual walking across the runway.’
‘Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire,’ the pilot was heard saying on air traffic control audio. Denver International Airport is pictured in a file photo
Flight radar shows the plane stopped moments after beginning takeoff. Air traffic control audio from ATC.com picked up the pilot reporting the collision and the ensuing engine fire
At least 12 passengers were treated for minor injuries. A file photo of a Frontier Airlines aircraft
The pilot then said there was smoke on the aircraft and that they’d need to evacuate the passengers and crew.
The Denver Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire.
Frontier and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board is also aware of the incident.
Runway 17L, where the collision occurred, reopened at 10.55am Saturday.
