Chaos at Denver After Frontier Jet Strikes Person During Takeoff

Passengers aboard a packed Frontier Airlines flight were thrown into chaos Friday night after their plane reportedly struck and killed a person on the runway during takeoff at Denver International Airport.

The terrifying incident unfolded around 11:19 p.m. as Frontier Flight 4345 was departing for Los Angeles with 224 passengers and seven crew members onboard.

According to airport officials, a person had allegedly jumped a perimeter fence and made their way onto the runway just moments before the collision.

Authorities say the individual was hit only two minutes after breaching the airport grounds.

Air traffic control audio captured the shocking moment the pilot realized something had gone horribly wrong.

“Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot radioed before adding, “We just hit somebody…we have an engine fire.”

Moments later, the pilot reported smoke inside the aircraft and announced an emergency evacuation directly on the runway.

“There was an individual walking across the runway,” the pilot said. “We’ve got smoke on the aircraft. We’re going to evacuate on the runway.”

Passengers were forced to flee the Airbus A321 using emergency slides as smoke filled parts of the cabin. Emergency crews rushed to the scene while terrified travelers were later bused back to the terminal.

Airport officials said 12 people suffered minor injuries during the ordeal, while five were taken to nearby hospitals for additional treatment.

The person struck by the aircraft was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released the victim’s identity and said the individual is not believed to have been an airport employee.

Investigators later examined the airport fence line and said it appeared to be fully intact despite the breach.

Frontier Airlines released a statement saying the company was “extremely saddened by this incident” and confirmed it is now working with airport officials and federal investigators to determine exactly what happened.

A brief engine fire caused by the impact was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy addressed the incident Saturday, calling the victim a “trespasser” and warning that “no one should EVER trespass on an airport.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating the deadly runway disaster.

The incident is the latest in a growing string of alarming airport safety scares across the United States, raising fresh concerns about aviation safety and security at major airports.