Plane Strikes Pedestrian During Takeoff at Denver Airport, Passengers Evacuated

A Frontier Airlines aircraft aborted takeoff after striking a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport late Friday night, triggering an engine fire alert and an emergency evacuation of all passengers on board.

According to airport authorities, the incident occurred at approximately 11:19pm as Flight 4345 was preparing to depart from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport.

In radio communications reported by ATC recordings, the pilot informed air traffic controllers that the aircraft had “hit somebody” while on the runway and reported an engine fire shortly afterward.

The pilot also stated that an individual had been walking across the runway during takeoff. Air traffic controllers immediately dispatched emergency crews to the scene.

Moments later, the crew reported smoke inside the aircraft and initiated an emergency evacuation on the runway. Passengers exited the plane using emergency slides before being transported back to the terminal by airport buses.

Frontier Airlines confirmed that the Airbus A321 involved in the incident was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, bringing the total number of people on board to 231.

The airline said smoke had been reported inside the cabin and that pilots decided to abort takeoff as a precaution. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the smoke was directly linked to the collision with the pedestrian.

Neither the airport nor the airline has released information regarding the condition of the pedestrian.

Denver International Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and an investigation into the incident is underway. Runway 17L, where the collision occurred, remains closed as authorities continue their examination of the scene.