Frontier plane hits, kills person on runway during takeoff at Denver airport
The Colorado Sun • • general
Key Points:
- A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 struck and killed a person who had jumped a perimeter fence onto a runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, causing an engine fire and forcing an emergency evacuation.
- The incident occurred at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday as flight 4345 was departing for Los Angeles, carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.
- The pilot reported smoke in the cabin and aborted the takeoff, evacuating passengers via slides; 12 people sustained minor injuries, with five hospitalized.
- Authorities confirmed the trespasser was not an airport employee, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified; runway 17L remains closed during the investigation.
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated the individual deliberately breached airport security by scaling the perimeter fence and running onto the runway.
