Passengers, including children, experienced a dramatic evacuation from a Frontier Airlines plane after it tragically hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport. The flight, originally headed to Los Angeles, struck the person during takeoff, resulting in the individual being partially engulfed by an engine, leading to an engine fire that was swiftly extinguished by firefighters.
Videos captured emergency slides being deployed as 231 passengers on board exited the aircraft onto the runway. Social media footage revealed the damage to the plane’s engine, with responders urging passengers to move away for safety.
Inside the aircraft, footage showed the moment of impact with the pedestrian, as sparks flew from the engine and startled passengers reacted. Air traffic control audio recordings captured the pilot’s distress call to the tower, reporting the collision and engine fire.
The pilot disclosed that there were 231 individuals on board, confirming that the pedestrian was hit while walking across the runway. Following worsening conditions, the pilot urgently ordered an evacuation, citing smoke in the cabin, leading to a swift response from the Denver Fire Department to douse the flames.
Denver Airport officials disclosed that the pedestrian had breached a perimeter fence and was struck shortly after entering the airport, with no confirmation of the individual’s identity or affiliation with the airport. Frontier Airlines acknowledged the incident, stating that smoke in the cabin prompted the aborted takeoff and precautionary evacuation using slides.
The airline expressed deep sadness over the event and assured ongoing cooperation with authorities for a thorough investigation. The US National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident, which occurred a day after the tragic death of a Delta Air Lines employee at Orlando International Airport.