Additional Coverage:
- Sickening thermal footage shows moment person sucked into Frontier Airlines jet engine (themirror.com)
Newly released footage captures the distressing moment a Frontier Airlines plane struck a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport late Friday evening. The aircraft, destined for Los Angeles, reported the collision around 11:19 p.m. Tragically, the individual who entered the runway area did not survive the incident.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that 12 passengers sustained minor injuries, with five requiring hospital care. Thermal surveillance video shows the pedestrian stepping directly in front of the plane’s right engine before being pulled in, a moment that has deeply unsettled viewers. Additional audio recordings from air traffic control include a somber reference to “limbs” on the runway, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Passengers onboard described a chaotic evacuation, with some expressing concern about delays as smoke filled the cabin and the cold conditions they faced on the tarmac afterward. Emergency slides were deployed to evacuate all 231 individuals aboard, who were then transported by bus to the terminal.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is actively gathering information to determine whether the evacuation meets criteria for a formal safety investigation. NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick indicated that more details would be available as the inquiry progresses.
According to airport officials, the pedestrian had breached a perimeter fence and was on airport grounds for only about two minutes before the collision occurred. Authorities believe the individual was not an airport employee.
Audio from the cockpit and control tower reveals the pilot alerting air traffic control to the collision and ensuing engine fire, stating, “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire,” and confirming the presence of 231 people on board. Emergency responders quickly mobilized to the scene, with one reporting the presence of human remains on the runway.
Frontier Airlines identified the aircraft involved as Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. The airline reported that smoke was detected in the cabin, prompting the pilots to abort takeoff, though it remains unclear if this was directly related to the pedestrian strike.
Denver International Airport has notified the NTSB and closed runway 17L, where the incident took place, pending a thorough investigation. Authorities continue to work closely with federal safety agencies to understand the full circumstances surrounding this tragic event.