By Swift Reporter
A pedestrian has died after being struck by a departing plane at Denver International Airport in the United States.
The incident triggered panic onboard and forced an emergency evacuation of hundreds of passengers.
It unfolded late on Friday night, May 8, as a Frontier Airlines flight prepared to depart for Los Angeles International Airport.
Airport authorities said the aircraft struck an unidentified person who had reportedly entered the restricted airfield area moments earlier.
According to Denver International Airport officials, the plane was taking off from runway 17L at about 11:19pm when the collision occurred.
In a statement shared on X, the airport confirmed the aircraft “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 pm on Friday.”
Authorities said the victim had jumped over a perimeter fence before accessing the runway area.
Airport spokespersons disclosed that the person was hit barely two minutes after entering the airport grounds, with officials adding that the deceased was not believed to be an airport employee.
Audio recordings between the pilot and air traffic control later revealed the tense moments immediately after the collision.
“We’re stopping on the runway. We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire,” the pilot told the control tower, according to the site ATC.com. “
The pilot further informed air traffic controllers that the aircraft was carrying “231 souls” onboard and reported that “an individual was walking across the runway.”
Air traffic controllers immediately responded by dispatching emergency crews to the scene.
Uasin Gishu shooting: 2 senior cops open fire inside bar after disagreement with waitress
“Rolling the trucks now,” the controller replied before the pilot later added: “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Frontier Airlines later confirmed that flight 4345 was involved in the incident, explaining that smoke had been detected inside the cabin shortly after the aircraft aborted takeoff.
In a statement, the airline said the Airbus A321 had 224 passengers and seven crew members onboard during the ordeal.
“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities,” the airline said.
The airline, however, did not immediately clarify whether the smoke was directly connected to the collision with the pedestrian or the reported engine fire.
Passengers were later evacuated using emergency slides as airport rescue teams rushed to secure the aircraft and assist those onboard.
Emergency buses ferried passengers back to the airport terminal as investigators began examining the scene.
Airport officials said at least 12 passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process, while five others were taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
Denver International Airport confirmed that runway 17L would remain closed as investigations continued with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) notified.
WhatsApp/Call: +256 754 137391
