One person who climbed Denver International Airport's perimeter fence and crossed an active runway was struck and killed by Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 departing for Los Angeles. The crew reported smoke in the cabin and aborted takeoff; passengers evacuated via slides and a brief engine fire was extinguished. Twelve people reported minor injuries and five were hospitalized. The FAA and NTSB are investigating while the airport reviews perimeter security after inspectors found the fence intact.
Person Who Scaled Denver Perimeter Fence Struck and Killed by Frontier Plane During Takeoff
Clipped From Video
One person who climbed a perimeter fence and ran onto an active runway at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a departing Frontier Airlines jet late Friday, airport officials said.
What Happened: Frontier flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, was accelerating for takeoff when the aircraft struck the pedestrian. Frontier said the flight was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members (231 people total); the pilot also reported there were more than 21,000 pounds of fuel on board.
The airport gave the time of the incident as approximately 11:19 p.m. local time. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the jet accelerating at about 146 mph shortly before the crew aborted the takeoff.
Cervantes speaks with KCNC. - KCNC
Evacuation, Smoke and Fire
Crew reported smoke in the cabin and aborted the takeoff. Passengers were evacuated down emergency slides as a precaution. The Denver Fire Department extinguished a brief engine fire. Twelve people reported minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals; other passengers were later placed on alternate flights.
Security and Perimeter
Denver International has roughly 36 miles of perimeter fencing. Airport inspectors afterward said the fence remained intact, but airport officials announced they will conduct an incident analysis and review the perimeter security program. The airport said it uses video surveillance and a “combination of technology” and performs continuous perimeter inspections.
Investigations Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB indicated it is coordinating with the FAA, airport operations and local law enforcement to gather information about the incident.
A still from a video shot by Iga Zadzilko after evacuating the Frontier Airlines plane on Friday. - Iga Zadzilko
Audio and Eyewitness Accounts
Air-traffic control audio shared by the ATC.com app captured the pilot telling controllers the airplane had “hit somebody” and that an individual had been walking across the runway; controllers immediately dispatched emergency vehicles. Passengers described seeing a spark and then fire on the right wing. One passenger told a local station he feared for his life as smoke filled the cabin while others reported being jolted during the aborted takeoff and evacuation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the person had “deliberately” scaled the perimeter fence and run onto a runway, adding: “No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
The identity of the person killed has not been released, and officials said the individual is not believed to have been an airport employee.
Next Steps: The airport will complete its incident analysis and review perimeter security measures. The FAA and NTSB investigations will determine sequence of events, safety implications and whether changes to procedures or security are needed.
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