Denver Runway Intrusion Kills Man as Frontier Jet Aborts Takeoff

Overview

• The runway incursion that halted a Frontier takeoff Friday at Denver left one person dead and set the jet’s right engine on fire.
• Security video released by the airport, along with tower audio posted by ATC.com, shows the man on Runway 17L as pilots reported “We just hit somebody” and called an engine fire.
• Pilots aborted the takeoff, smoke entered the cabin, and all passengers evacuated down slides, with 12 reporting minor injuries and five taken to hospitals.
• The Airbus A321 operating Frontier Flight 4345 to Los Angeles carried 224 passengers and seven crew, and firefighters quickly put out the blaze before buses returned evacuees to the terminal.
• Airport officials say the man jumped the perimeter fence and was not an employee, and the FAA, NTSB, Frontier, and Denver airport have opened investigations as the airport prepares a security protocol review.