The person struck and killed on the Denver runway was reportedly walking across the tarmac
A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a person on a runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff late Friday night, prompting an emergency evacuation of all 231 people on board and triggering a federal investigation into one of the more significant aviation incidents at a major US airport in recent memory.
What happened Friday night
The incident occurred at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday, May 8, when Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, struck a pedestrian on the runway during its departure roll. Flight data from the aviation tracking platform Flightradar24 showed the aircraft had reached approximately 146 miles per hour at around 11:15 p.m. before the crew aborted the takeoff.
Air traffic control audio captured the flight crew reporting the situation in real time, with the pilot informing the tower that the aircraft had struck someone on the runway and that an engine fire had started. The pilot confirmed 231 people on board along with more than 21,000 pounds of fuel. The crew began reporting smoke filling the cabin shortly after and made the decision to evacuate the passengers on the runway.
At least 1 passenger described seeing the right wing on fire in the immediate aftermath of the impact, describing the experience as one in which he believed the plane might be lost before the aircraft came to a stop and the crew took control of the situation.
The Denver Fire Department arrived at the scene and extinguished the brief engine fire. Officials confirmed the person struck was killed. The deceased was at least partially pulled into one of the engines as a result of the impact, according to an official briefed on the incident.
The emergency evacuation
Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides deployed directly on the runway. Emergency crews then transported all passengers by bus to the airport terminal. Frontier Airlines confirmed the flight was carrying 224 passengers and 7 crew members. As is standard procedure following any emergency evacuation, all individuals on board were evaluated by medical personnel after reaching the terminal. At least 1 passenger reported a minor injury.
The runway involved in the incident was closed and remained closed through this morning while the investigation was underway.
How the person got onto the runway
Authorities confirmed that the individual who was killed did not appear to have any connection to construction or maintenance work occurring on a parallel runway at the time of the incident. Denver International Airport security personnel were inspecting the eastern perimeter fence this morning to determine whether a gap or breach in the fencing allowed the individual to gain access to the runway. The person’s identity had not been publicly released.
What investigations are underway
The National Transportation Safety Board was notified and said this morning it was coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration, Denver International Airport operations and local law enforcement as it gathered information about the incident. The Denver Police Department is also assisting with an active investigation. Frontier Airlines said it is working with airport and safety authorities to determine the full sequence of events.
The airline expressed deep regret over the loss of life in a statement released following the incident. This is a developing story.
SOURCES: CNN, People, ABC7