Surveillance footage has captured a distressing incident at Denver International Airport, where a Frontier Airlines plane tragically struck and killed a person who had wandered onto the runway late Friday night.
The thermal imaging video, as reported by KDVR, reveals the unidentified individual climbing over a perimeter fence and walking directly into the path of the aircraft.
“The individual trespassing on the runway was hit by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during a high-speed takeoff attempt. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff,” stated Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a post on X.
The incident took place around 11:19 p.m. as the aircraft was preparing for takeoff, resulting in a brief engine fire that was quickly extinguished by emergency responders, according to a statement from the airport on X.
The thermal footage shows the unidentified person scaling the fence before stepping into the path of the aircraft on May 8, 2026, at Denver International Airport.
Radio communications obtained by KDVR reveal the haunting details relayed by first responders in the wake of the tragic collision.
“Runway 17L is closed,” a first responder reportedly said. “I do have limbs on the runway. I believe the aircraft struck an individual.”
The individual was “at least partially consumed” by one of the plane’s engines, ABC News reported.
Thermal imaging shows an unidentified person scaling a perimeter fence and walking into the path of a Frontier airplane at Denver International Airport on May 8, 2026. (KDVR)
Officials said 12 people were hurt and five were transported to a local hospital with injuries from the crash. Authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the individual struck by the aircraft.
“As far as security protocols, our security teams and Denver Police regularly patrol the perimeter of the airport. The person scaled the barbed-wire fence and was hit within two minutes,” a Denver Airport spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Denver International Airport later posted an update to X adding it “has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact.”
A Frontier Airlines Airbus A320 neo plane, owned by the Bank of Utah Trustee, taxis to a gate at Denver International Airport (DEN) on March 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
“We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved,” the statement concluded.
The incident is under investigation by the NTSB, FAA and Frontier Airlines.
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