A pedestrian walking on a runway during takeoff at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles. The incident resulted in the person being partially consumed by one of the aircraft’s engines, causing an engine fire that was promptly extinguished by firefighters.
Following the tragic event, passengers were safely evacuated from the plane on the runway using emergency slides and were then transported to the terminals by emergency crews on buses. The air traffic control audio from ATC.com captured the crew alerting the tower about the situation, with the pilot reporting the collision and engine fire.
The pilot disclosed that there were 231 individuals on board when the accident occurred. Subsequently, deteriorating conditions led to an urgent evacuation announcement due to smoke in the cabin. Denver Fire Department swiftly responded to the scene and managed to put out the fire.
In response to the incident, Frontier Airlines issued a statement explaining the details of the event and the precautionary measures taken to ensure passenger safety. The airline expressed deep sadness over the incident and emphasized ongoing investigations in collaboration with relevant safety authorities.
According to a source familiar with the matter, airport security had been conducting routine checks on the east perimeter fence earlier in the day, and the individual involved in the accident seemed unrelated to the ongoing work on a neighboring runway. The Denver Police Department is actively involved in the investigation but refrained from disclosing further details at this time.
While at least one passenger sustained a minor injury, all individuals on board are being assessed, adhering to standard protocols following an aircraft evacuation.
