Credited from: SCMP
A Frontier Airlines plane, preparing for takeoff from Denver International Airport to Los Angeles, struck and killed a pedestrian late Friday night. The individual, who jumped the airport's perimeter fence, was hit just two minutes after gaining access to the runway, according to statements from airport officials and the airline, Frontier. The incident occurred around 11:19 PM local time, prompting an emergency response involving an engine fire that the Denver Fire Department extinguished quickly, according to CBS News, BBC, and Al Jazeera.
The collision forced the pilots to abort the takeoff as smoke filled the cabin, leading to the evacuation of all passengers via inflatable slides. Frontier Airlines stated that while no fatalities occurred among the flight's 231 people, twelve passengers reported minor injuries, with five taken to hospitals for treatment, as noted by South China Morning Post and NPR.
The identity of the pedestrian has not been released, and it remains unclear whether they were a frequent visitor to the airport. Denver International Airport reported that the perimeter fence was found intact, and authorities were investigating the incident's circumstances, as reported by CBS News and BBC. Frontier Airlines has expressed profound sadness over the incident, stating they are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board which is also investigating the matter, as explained in Al Jazeera and NPR.