WASHINGTON/DENVER (Reuters) – A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, causing an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate, airport authorities said.“DEN can confirm that the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was injured just two minutes later while crossing the runway,” the statement said, adding that “the pedestrian is deceased, is not believed to be an airport employee and has not been identified.” The person was “at least partially consumed by one of the engines,” ABC News reported, citing an official.The Airbus A321 plane, bound for Los Angeles, was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, according to Frontier.“We stopped on the runway, hit someone, and the engine caught fire… There was an individual walking across the runway,” the captain of Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 told air traffic controllers at 11:19 p.m. on Friday, according to audio from ATC.com.The air traffic controller responded that they were “rolling the trucks now” before the pilot told the tower that “there is smoke in the plane. We will evacuate on the runway.”
The plane was quickly evacuated, and 12 passengers on board reported minor injuries. The airport said five were taken to local hospitals. The Denver Fire Department said a brief engine fire was extinguished.Transport Minister Sean Duffy said local law enforcement was investigating the incident. “No one should trespass on any airport,” he wrote on X.The Airport Authority said it examined the fence line and found it to be intact. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified of the matter and the involved runway 17L will remain closed during the investigation.
