Incident at Denver Airport Involving Frontier Airlines Flight
A Frontier Airlines flight en route to Los Angeles was involved in a tragic incident at Denver International Airport on Friday night. During takeoff, the plane struck a pedestrian and subsequently caught fire in one of its engines, leading to an emergency evacuation of the 224 passengers using slides.
According to airport officials, the unidentified individual had managed to climb over a perimeter fence and reached the runway just moments before the accident. It’s been noted that this person didn’t appear to be an airport employee. An inspection of the fence revealed no apparent breaches.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned that the victim had posted on social media before the incident, indicating that he had intentionally jumped onto the runway. Reports suggest that the aircraft collided with the individual at significant speed. Following the event, security protocols were reviewed, and officials conducted checks around the eastern border of the airport.
The collision happened around 11:19 p.m. local time, as reported by CBS News. The pilot declared an engine fire afterward and aborted the flight’s takeoff. Passengers were quickly evacuated and transported back to the terminal.
One passenger, Jose Cervantes, recounted his experience, saying he felt the plane tilt before hearing a loud thud. “I looked to my right and just saw the right wing on fire and exploding,” he described. He also mentioned the cabin filling with smoke, which heightened the fears he experienced. His mother sustained an injury during the evacuation and was taken to the emergency room.
Video footage shared on social media appears to show the impact, with a loud crash heard before passengers reacted in distress. Other clips have circulated online, showing evidence of blood inside the engine compartment.
A total of 12 individuals reported minor injuries, with five requiring hospitalization. The incident is currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Denver Police Department.
