• Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian during takeoff in Denver.
• All 231 individuals on board were safely evacuated, with minor injuries reported.
• The pedestrian breached airport security by jumping a perimeter fence.
• Investigations are underway by multiple authorities including the NTSB.
• Runway 17L remains closed for the investigation into the incident.

A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport as it prepared for takeoff to Los Angeles at approximately 11:19 PM on Friday. The pedestrian, who had jumped a perimeter fence, was struck two minutes after entering the tarmac, according to various reports from CBS News, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

The collision caused an engine fire, which the Denver Fire Department quickly extinguished, and prompted the evacuation of all 231 people on board. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides, as there was smoke reported in the cabin. Twelve individuals sustained minor injuries, with five requiring hospitalization, as confirmed by South China Morning Post and NPR.

Local authorities stated that the individual struck by the plane is not believed to be an airport employee and has not been identified as the investigation continues. They emphasized that the fence through which the pedestrian entered was intact prior to the incident, as reported by Los Angeles Times and Channel News Asia.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified and initiated an investigation, with the runway set to remain closed until further notice. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reiterated the importance of airport security and condemned the actions that led to this tragic event, as stated in reports from India Times and India Times.