The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Sunday that it is in the process of gathering information regarding the evacuation of a Frontier Airlines plane that tragically struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport (DEN) during takeoff. The incident occurred on Friday, at approximately 11:19 p.m., when the flight was en route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport.
The Frontier Airlines flight, identified as flight 4345, reportedly struck a pedestrian who had jumped a perimeter fence and crossed the runway just two minutes into the takeoff procedure. In the wake of the incident, passengers were evacuated using emergency slides, and an airport emergency crew subsequently transported them to the terminal. An airport spokesperson reported that twelve passengers sustained minor injuries, with five individuals requiring hospitalization; however, specific details about the nature of these injuries were not disclosed.
Concerned passengers expressed their anxiety about the evacuation process, noting that they were left in the cabin for several minutes as smoke filled the area. After evacuating, they remained on the tarmac in cold conditions. NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick emphasized that the agency is gathering detailed information about the emergency evacuation to assess whether it meets the criteria for a safety investigation. She indicated that more details would likely be available shortly.
So far, Frontier Airlines has not publicly commented on the evacuation circumstances. Following the incident, the pilot communicated with the control tower, stating, “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.” The pilot informed the air traffic controller that there were “231 souls” on board, summarizing the urgency of the situation as they dealt with smoke in the aircraft.
The NTSB is working closely with the airport and other safety authorities to investigate the incident. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the pedestrian’s actions, noting the individual had deliberately breached airport security by scaling the fence and running onto the runway. Duffy emphasized the gravity of trespassing at an airport, stating, “No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
This unfortunate incident occurred just one day after a separate accident at Orlando International Airport, where a Delta Air Lines employee was killed. The airline confirmed the loss but did not provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the employee's death or their identity. Delta Air Lines expressed its commitment to supporting the affected employee's family and working with local authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.
In summary, the Frontier Airlines collision at Denver International Airport, which resulted in the death of a pedestrian and injuries to several passengers, has prompted inquiries and investigations from multiple authorities, highlighting significant safety concerns regarding airport security and emergency response protocols.
