A death on Denver airport’s runway highlights the challenge of securing a facility twice the size of Manhattan
CNN • • business
Key Points:
- A pedestrian who jumped over a fence onto a runway at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff, prompting a safety and security review by the airport.
- The airport, which spans 53 square miles with 36 miles of perimeter fencing, faces significant challenges in securing its vast area, though pedestrian incursions remain extremely rare nationwide.
- Past breaches at Denver and other U.S. airports have included both accidental and intentional entries, with some incidents resulting in fatalities, highlighting ongoing security vulnerabilities despite existing measures.
- Airport experts note that fencing, surveillance, and emergency response systems will be scrutinized in the investigation, but the sheer size and complexity of the airport make complete prevention of unauthorized runway access difficult.
- Officials emphasize that such fatal incidents are very rare and should not undermine public confidence in the overall security of major U.S. airports.