Frontier Airlines plane hits pedestrian during takeoff in Denver

Saturday 09 May 2026 - 13:33

A serious aviation incident occurred at Denver International Airport when a Frontier Airlines aircraft reportedly struck a pedestrian while preparing for takeoff on Friday night.

According to airport authorities, Flight 4345 was accelerating on the runway when the crew informed air traffic controllers that the aircraft had hit a person crossing the runway area. Audio recordings published by aviation monitoring platforms captured a pilot reporting an engine fire immediately after the impact.

The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. Airport officials confirmed that all passengers were evacuated safely using emergency slides after smoke was detected inside the cabin.

Emergency teams and firefighters quickly intervened at the scene. Authorities stated that a brief fire broke out in one of the aircraft’s engines but was rapidly brought under control.

According to several U.S. media reports, the person struck by the plane suffered severe injuries and may have been partially burned by the aircraft engine. Officials have not yet publicly confirmed the identity or condition of the individual involved.

At least one passenger aboard the flight reportedly sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process. Travelers were later transported by bus back to the airport terminal while emergency crews secured the area and began an investigation.

The incident has raised new concerns about airport runway safety and access control procedures. Aviation experts note that runways are among the most tightly controlled areas of any airport, and incidents involving unauthorized individuals are extremely rare.

Authorities are expected to examine how the pedestrian managed to enter the runway zone and whether security or operational failures contributed to the accident.

The event caused temporary disruption to airport operations as investigators and emergency responders worked at the scene.