A Frontier Airlines jet bound for Los Angeles killed a pedestrian on a Denver runway during takeoff Friday night, igniting an engine fire that forced 224 passengers to evacuate down emergency slides.
The unidentified person climbed over the perimeter fence and reached Runway 17L roughly two minutes before impact, Denver International Airport said in a statement. The deceased does not appear to be an employee, and a later inspection of the fenceline turned up no gaps, officials added.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement posted on X that the victim intentionally climbed the fence and dashed onto the runway, where the aircraft hit the person at high speed. A source briefed on the incident told the network that security crews checked the east perimeter for breaches Saturday morning. An official separately confirmed to ABC News that the person was at least partially pulled into one of the engines. (RELATED: Country Legend Dwight Yoakam Says Scary Aircraft Incident Caused Delay)
The collision occurred around 11:19 p.m. local time, CBS News reported, after which the pilot declared an engine fire and aborted the takeoff. Passengers descended the emergency chutes and were bused to the terminal.
Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway.
The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped… https://t.co/x2oVY1b0AH
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) May 9, 2026
Passenger Jose Cervantes told KCNC he felt the aircraft tilt up before hearing a thud. “I looked to my right, and I just see the right wing just on fire and like, it’s exploding,” he said. Cervantes said the cabin filled with smoke and he feared burning alive. His mother locked her knee at the bottom of the slide and was headed to the emergency room.
Video posted to social media appeared to capture the impact, NBC News reported, with a loud crash audible before passengers screamed. Other clips circulating online showed bloody residue inside the engine housing.
Twelve people reported minor injuries and five were transported to local hospitals, the airport said. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Denver police are investigating.