A routine flight out of Denver turned into a terrifying emergency late Friday night.
If you’re traveling soon (especially through a major airport hub), this is the kind of news that can stop you mid-scroll. A Frontier Airlines flight preparing to depart Denver International Airport for Los Angeles was involved in a fatal runway incident, leading to an engine fire, an emergency evacuation, minor passenger injuries, and multiple investigations now underway.
A Frontier Airlines jet preparing to leave Denver International Airport for Los Angeles International Airport struck and killed a person on the runway on Friday, May 8th, according to reports. The flight, Frontier Flight 4345, was bound for Los Angeles when the incident occurred.
Denver International Airport confirmed that the plane reported striking a pedestrian at approximately 11:19 PM. After the collision, passengers reported smoke inside the cabin, and the flight crew discovered that a brief engine fire had broken out. Denver firefighters quickly extinguished the fire.
According to airport officials, the pedestrian reportedly jumped the airport’s perimeter fence just minutes before the incident and was struck while crossing the runway. The person was pronounced dead at the scene and has not been publicly identified. Officials said the individual was not believed to be an airport employee.
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. Everyone onboard was evacuated using emergency slides, and passengers were then transported by bus back to the terminal.
Passenger accounts described a frightening scene onboard the aircraft. One passenger told Denver’s NBC affiliate KUSA that smoke filled the cabin and made it difficult to breathe. Another passenger said they heard a loud boom and feared something catastrophic had happened.
Frontier said 12 passengers reported minor injuries, and five were taken to the hospital. The Associated Press also reported that the National Transportation Safety Board is gathering details about the evacuation, including the emergency response after smoke entered the cabin.
Frontier Airlines said it was investigating the incident in coordination with airport and safety authorities and added that the airline was “deeply saddened by this event.” The Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and Denver Police Department are all involved in the investigation.
The flight was rescheduled for Saturday morning at Denver International Airport, according to Frontier.
While this was an extremely rare and tragic incident, it is still a major piece of air travel news for anyone flying through Denver, traveling with Frontier Airlines, or keeping an eye on airport safety updates. Investigators are continuing to review what happened, including how the person accessed the runway and how the aircraft evacuation unfolded.
We’ll continue watching for updates on this developing travel story, so be sure to check back soon for the latest airline news, airport updates, theme park travel alerts, and vacation planning information.
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