Newly released surveillance footage reveals a person, believed to have been struck by a Frontier Airlines aircraft at a Colorado airport, walking down the runway moments before the incident. This occurred while the plane was accelerating for takeoff.
The victim, whose identity hasn’t been disclosed yet, was fatally injured when they were sucked into one of the engines of an Airbus A321neo during takeoff from Denver International Airport on Saturday night.
The individual had trespassed by jumping over the perimeter fence and was on the tarmac at approximately 11:19 p.m., as confirmed by the airport.
Viewers can see the victim moving rather quickly from one side of the runway to the other. The footage shows them positioned directly in line with the plane’s engine right before part of their body was drawn inside.
This tragic event unfolded about two minutes after the trespasser jumped the fence. At the time, the aircraft was travelling at around 139 mph, according to reports.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy remarked that “the intruders breached security” and made their way onto the runway. He emphasized that airport access should be strictly controlled.
One passenger, John Andsens, was on board with his sons when he saw “a human leg spinning inside the engine.” He described the atmosphere, saying that initially, many passengers were unaware of what was occurring until a loud explosion shocked them into realizing something was wrong.
According to Andsens, “Most people didn’t know what was going on or what had happened, but there was just a big explosion. Once people heard that loud noise, screams erupted, children were crying, and it was frightening.” He added that the impact caused the plane’s nose to lift, followed by a bomb-like explosion.
Flight attendants instructed passengers to remain seated, while flames erupted from the engine soon after. Luckily, all 224 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated. Andsens’ son took photos of the damaged engine, which was covered in blood and remnants from the incident.
This shocking experience prompted the Andsens to cancel their plans and opt to drive back to Nebraska instead.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are currently investigating the situation.
