‘We just hit somebody’ – Frontier Airlines plane kills runway trespasser at Denver airport
Frontier Airlines Aircraft Collides with Runway Trespasser at Denver International Airport
We just hit somebody – Air traffic control recordings captured the critical moments following a tragic incident at Denver International Airport on Friday night, when a Frontier Airlines flight struck a person who had climbed over a perimeter fence and entered the runway. The pilot, after stopping the takeoff of Flight 4345, relayed the situation to the control tower, stating,
“We just hit somebody.”
Shortly after, the pilot added,
“We have an engine fire.”
The collision occurred around 23:00 local time (06:00 BST), as the Airbus A321 was preparing to depart for Los Angeles International Airport. According to airport authorities, the unidentified individual had leapt the fence two minutes prior to the incident. At the time of impact, the plane was moving at a “high speed,” as noted by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a statement. “Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway,” Duffy said. He emphasized,
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
The engine fire was swiftly extinguished by the Denver Fire Department, though smoke was visible within the cabin. Passengers shared footage and photos of the smoke, capturing the urgency of the moment. Jose Cervantes, a passenger who spoke to a CBS affiliate, recounted his experience:
“I just see the right wing just on fire and like, it’s exploding.”
He described the scene with vivid detail, adding,
“You know, when I just saw the fire and the smoke, I just thought I was going to burn.”
His account highlights the suddenness and intensity of the event.
Frontier Airlines reported that all 224 passengers on board were evacuated via inflatable emergency slides as a precaution. While the majority of the passengers were unharmed, twelve individuals sustained minor injuries. Five of these injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals, though their medical conditions remained uncertain. The airline expressed deep sorrow, stating,
“We are deeply saddened by this event.”
Denver International Airport (DIA) confirmed that the fence surrounding the runway was intact at the time of the incident. “The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact,” DIA said in a statement. However, the trespasser was not believed to be an airport employee, according to the airport’s information. The collision prompted the immediate closure of the runway, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launching an investigation to determine the cause.
During the takeoff sequence, the pilot had first been given clearance by air traffic controllers to proceed. The controller’s final words to the crew were,
“We’re clear for takeoff, and have a good night.”
Moments later, the pilot interrupted the process, informing the tower,
“We’re stopping on the runway.”
He later clarified,
“There was an individual walking across the runway.”
The pilot also noted that the aircraft carried 231 souls onboard, including seven crew members.
Passengers described the chaos that followed the collision. Some recounted the sound of the impact, while others focused on the visual of the fire spreading. One passenger, who shared video of the smoke, said the scene was “chaotic” and “frightening.” Emergency crews arrived quickly to manage the situation, ensuring that the plane was secured and all passengers safely evacuated. The passengers were then transported back to the terminal by bus, as the airport worked to restore normal operations.
Despite the disruption, most of the passengers managed to continue their journeys. A subsequent Frontier flight carried the majority of the travelers away from the airport, allowing the runway to reopen after the investigation commenced. The incident has raised concerns about airport security, particularly the risk of unauthorized access to critical areas during takeoff and landing.
Commercial aircraft typically accelerate to speeds between 150 and 180mph (240–290 km/h) before liftoff. This speed, combined with the sudden appearance of the trespasser, likely contributed to the severity of the collision. The FAA and NTSB are now reviewing footage, analyzing flight data, and interviewing witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.
Denver International Airport reiterated its condolences, stating,
“We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved.”
The airport has since implemented additional measures to monitor the perimeter and prevent similar incidents in the future. Passengers and staff remain in shock over the occurrence, with many reflecting on the suddenness of the event and the safety protocols that failed in this instance.