A Frontier Airlines passenger jet struck and killed one person on a runway at Denver International Airport late Friday evening, May 8.
This forced pilots to abort takeoff as one of the engines caught fire and smoke filled the cabin.
The aircraft involved was Flight 4345, which consisted of an Airbus A321 carrying 224 people along with its crew of seven. Around 11:19 p.m., the plane had just begun to take off for Los Angeles International Airport.
The person’s identity remains unknown as the NTSB and FSS investigate how someone gained access to an active runway.
So far, it is unclear whether the person was an airport employee or an ordinary man.
Denver police have confirmed they are now assisting with the investigation and have “no further information to provide at this time.”
How did the incident occur?
According to audio from air traffic control, the plane’s pilot made an emergency call saying, “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Um, we just hit someone… we have an engine fire.”
“There was a person walking across the runway,” the pilot added.
Runway 17L remains closed until further notice. The victim’s identity will be released once next of kin have been notified.
