Passenger Jet Hits Person on Runway During Takeoff at Denver Airport

A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles struck a pedestrian on the tarmac at Denver International Airport late Friday, triggering an engine fire and an emergency evacuation. The incident occurred around 11:19 p.m. as Flight 4345 was accelerating for departure. The pilot immediately radioed the control tower, reporting, “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.” He added that an individual had been “walking across the runway.” The tower confirmed emergency vehicles were dispatched, and the pilot announced smoke in the cabin, leading to an evacuation on the runway. Passengers and crew—224 travelers and seven staff members—exited the Airbus A321 via inflatable slides and were bused to the terminal. Frontier Airlines said the pilots aborted takeoff after the collision, though it remains unclear whether the smoke was directly caused by the impact. The airline is investigating with airport and safety authorities. Denver International Airport stated that the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and that Runway 17L will remain closed during the probe. Neither the airport nor Frontier has disclosed the pedestrian’s condition. The pilot had earlier told the tower there were “231 souls” on board, a standard term for total occupants.