Moment Frontier flight catches fire after hitting person on runway at Denver Airport | VIDEO
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Moment Frontier flight catches fire after hitting person on runway at Denver Airport | VIDEO")
Screengrab from videos shared on social media. Photograph: (X/@Turbinetraveler, @flightradar24)
A Frontier Airlines flight aborted takeoff at Denver International Airport after striking a person on the runway late Friday, sparking an engine fire. The person was killed, while 12 passengers suffered minor injuries.
A Frontier flight aborted its takeoff from the Denver International Airport late Friday (May 8) after it hit a person on the runway. While the pedestrian who was struck by the plane was killed, 12 passengers reported minor injuries, five of whom were taken to local hospitals. Frontier Flight 4345 was evacuated shortly after the incident. In a statement, the airport said that its Runway 17L will remain closed while the investigation is being conducted.
A video on social media emerged, captured by a passenger on the flight, showing the moment the plane’s engine caught fire after hitting the person. In the clip, as the aircraft gains speed to take off, a sound of impact is heard, and a blaze is seen. Passengers on board can be heard screaming at the sudden incident.
According to the flight tracking website, Flightradar24, the aircraft had reached a a maximum speed of 127 knots before applying brakes and coming to a stop. It added that the Airbus A321neo suffered an engine fire and smoke filled the cabin resulting in an evacuation via slides.
What happened at Denver airport?
The Denver Int’l Airport said in a statement, “At approximately 11:19 p.m., Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN. Emergency crews responded to the scene. Passengers were bussed to the terminal and the majority have since departed DEN on a new Frontier flight.”
It added, “DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway. The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified.”
“We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved,” it said.
In a statement, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said that a trespasser breached the airport security at Denver International Airport and ran out onto a runway after deliberately scaling a perimeter fence.
He added that the “trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped takeoff procedures immediately. The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded.”
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Duffy said that the local law enforcement that handles the airport security is investigating the incident with support from the FAA and the TSA.
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport,” he said in a stern warning.
