Nightmare at Denver Airport: Frontier Flight Ingests Trespasser into Engine, Triggering Fire and Panic | GRAPHIC
A Frontier Airlines flight bound for LA turned into a nightmare Friday night after striking a trespasser on a Denver runway. The high-speed impact killed the intruder instantly, causing an engine fire and a terrifying emergency slide evacuation for 224 passengers
A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles struck and killed a person who breached the perimeter fence and ran onto an active runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night, forcing an emergency evacuation of 224 passengers.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. as Flight 4345, an Airbus A321, was accelerating on Runway 17L for takeoff. According to passenger videos and air traffic control recordings, the aircraft hit the individual at high speed during the takeoff roll. The person was killed instantly and ingested into one of the engines, causing an engine fire and smoke in the cabin.
Pilots immediately rejected the takeoff and radioed: “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.” The crew brought the jet to a stop on the runway and initiated a full emergency evacuation using slides. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire.
Twelve passengers sustained minor injuries, primarily during the nighttime slide evacuation. Five were transported to local hospitals for treatment. All others were safely evacuated and later bused back to the terminal.
Passenger videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment of impact, with loud thuds, screams, and visible flames from the engine. Some clips show the damaged engine after the incident.
The deceased was not an airport employee or authorized person. Authorities confirmed the individual climbed a perimeter fence shortly before the strike. The breach is under joint investigation by the NTSB, FAA, TSA, Denver Police, and airport security to determine how the intruder accessed the secure area undetected.
Frontier Airlines issued a statement expressing condolences and thanking the crew for their professionalism. The airline said it is cooperating fully with investigators. The runway was closed for several hours as wreckage and evidence were cleared.
This is a rare but serious type of runway incursion involving a perimeter breach. No other injuries to airport staff or additional damage to the aircraft beyond the engine were reported.
The investigation remains ongoing.