A pedestrian on a runway at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines flight heading to Los Angeles during takeoff.
The individual was partially consumed by one of the engines, leading to an engine fire that was extinguished by firefighters.
Following the incident, passengers were evacuated from the plane on emergency slides and transported to terminals by emergency crews on buses.
Recordings of air traffic control communications from ATC.com captured the pilot of Frontier Airlines flight 4345 notifying the tower about the collision and engine fire.
The pilot mentioned that there were 231 individuals on board and acknowledged the pedestrian on the runway.
Subsequently, the pilot reported worsening conditions and the immediate need for evacuation due to smoke in the aircraft, leading to a swift response from the Denver Fire Department.
Frontier Airlines released a statement detailing the incident, stating that the aircraft struck a pedestrian during takeoff, resulting in smoke in the cabin and an aborted takeoff for passenger safety.
An informed source mentioned that airport security had been inspecting the perimeter fence for breaches before the accident and confirmed that the pedestrian did not seem related to adjacent runway activities.
The Denver Police Department is aiding in the investigation but refrained from disclosing further details due to the ongoing nature of the inquiries.
One passenger sustained a minor injury, and all passengers and crew are undergoing evaluation, which is standard procedure post-aircraft evacuation.
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