NTSB gathering details about Frontier Airlines evacuation after plane hit, killed person in Denver

Key Points:

• A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian who had jumped the fence and crossed the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, leading to an emergency evacuation of 224 passengers and seven crew members.
• Passengers were evacuated via slides amid smoke filling the cabin, with 12 passengers suffering minor injuries and five hospitalized; some passengers expressed concern about delays in evacuation and carrying on bags during the escape.
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is gathering information to determine if the evacuation meets criteria for a safety investigation, while Frontier Airlines is coordinating with airport and safety authorities.
• Eyewitness accounts described panic and chaos during the evacuation, with passengers struggling to breathe due to smoke and some rushing to exit the plane once doors opened.
• The incident follows NTSB concerns about evacuation safety, especially passengers retrieving carry-on luggage, and comes a day after a Delta employee was killed in a separate incident at Orlando International Airport.