Denver, CO – A routine takeoff at Denver International Airport (DEN) turned tragic late Friday night when a Frontier Airlines flight struck and killed a pedestrian on Runway 17L. The incident, which occurred around 11:19 p.m. local time, forced the pilots of Flight 4345 to abort takeoff, resulting in an engine fire and the subsequent evacuation of all passengers and crew.
The pedestrian, who has not been identified, reportedly breached airport security by scaling a perimeter fence and entering the runway. According to airport officials, the individual was struck just two minutes after entering the airport grounds. While the person is deceased, they are not believed to be an airport employee. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter.
The Frontier Airlines Airbus A321, en route to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members at the time of the incident. Following the collision, the pilot radioed air traffic control, reporting that the aircraft had struck someone and that an engine fire had ignited. Smoke was subsequently reported in the cabin, prompting the pilots to initiate an emergency evacuation.
Passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft using emergency slides. While the immediate evacuation was a precautionary measure, 12 passengers sustained minor injuries, and five were transported to local hospitals for further evaluation. Firefighters from the Denver Fire Department responded promptly and extinguished the engine fire.
The incident at DEN has raised concerns about airport security protocols. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the deceased as a "trespasser" who deliberately circumvented security measures. The airport has since examined the fence line and confirmed it was intact. Runway 17L was temporarily closed for investigation but has since been reopened. This event follows closely on the heels of another tragic incident at Orlando International Airport, where a Delta Air Lines employee was killed on duty the previous night.
