A pedestrian was struck and killed by an Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff on Aeroporto Internacional from Denver on Friday night. Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 with 231 people on board, was heading to Los Angeles when it collided with the individual walking on runway 17L. The impact damaged an engine and caused smoke in the cabin. The pilots aborted the takeoff immediately and the passengers evacuated along the runway using emergency slides.
Invasor jumped security fence minutes before impact
The pedestrian crossed the airport’s perimeter fence and invaded the runway approximately two minutes before being hit by the plane. The accident occurred around 11:19 pm on Friday. Authorities confirmed that the victim was not an airport employee and his identity has not been released. Transportes Sean Duffy’s secretary stated that the individual deliberately violated airport security.
🚨UPDATE: Person struck and killed by Frontier Airlines plane on Denver airport runway after jumping perimeter fence, officials say. pic.twitter.com/6oHmEOUHOu
— Intl Now (@Intlnow) May 9, 2026
The local police initiated an investigation with the support of Administração Federal of Aviação (FAA) and Administração of Segurança in Transportes (TSA). Equipes security personnel were checking the airport’s eastern fence on Saturday morning for possible breaches that allowed the break-in.
Pilotos detected engine fire during takeoff attempt
The commander informed the control tower that the aircraft had hit someone and that there was fire in one of the engines. Air traffic control audio recording recorded the sequence of events. “Tower, Frontier 4345, we are stopping on the runway. Acabamos from hitting someone… we have engine fire”, reported the pilot.
With smoke spreading throughout the cabin, the crew decided on an emergency evacuation. Denver Fire Department brought the fire under control quickly after firefighters arrived on scene. Nenhum of 224 passengers and seven crew suffered serious injuries. Doze passengers reported minor injuries and five were taken to hospitals for medical evaluation.
- The Airbus A321 reached a speed of approximately 127 knots before braking completely.
- The flight was scheduled to take off at 10:39 pm.
- Passageiros were transported by bus to the terminal after evacuation.
- Most passengers continued their journey on another Frontier flight in the early hours of the morning.
Pista closed and investigation initiated by federal agencies
Runway 17L remained closed during the initial accident investigation. Conselho Nacional of Segurança in Transportes (NTSB) and the FAA were notified and began analyzing the circumstances of the invasion and the exact moment of impact. Investigadores examined the sequence of events that led to the collision and airport perimeter security measures.
Passageiros described a loud thud followed by an intense smell of smoke. The crew remained calm during the evacuation via the emergency slides. Air traffic at the airport returned to normal in the hours following the incident.
Frontier Airlines and authorities release official statements
Frontier Airlines expressed solidarity with what happened in an official statement. The airline reported that it fully cooperates with authorities in collecting information and investigating. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event,” the company said in a press release.
The airport reinforced that runway invasions are rare events and highlighted its commitment to safety. Medidas additional security measures may be assessed following completion of the final investigation report, which is expected to last several weeks.
