A Denver airport horror has left a trespasser “partially consumed” by a Frontier Airlines jet engine.
Authorities report that a flight, carrying 231 people and bound for Los Angeles, aborted its takeoff late Friday night when the jet collided with a pedestrian on a runway.
About a dozen passengers sustained mostly minor injuries during the subsequent emergency evacuation of the jet.
The collision triggered a brief fire.
This is the moment Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo flight 4345 to LAX struck a pedestrian on Runway 17L during the takeoff roll at Denver. pic.twitter.com/LZRL8OTaNj
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) May 9, 2026
A Frontier plane fatally struck a pedestrian in Denver as it was taking off for Los Angeles Friday night, according to the airline and Denver International Airport.
The Airbus A321 was taking off from Denver and departing for Los Angeles when the person crossed the runway around… pic.twitter.com/LYM1nz4HdR
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 9, 2026
Frontier jet hits person on DEN runway…. High-speed impact during takeoff roll, aborted, engine fire, full evac. 231 safe (mostly), one deceased. How does someone stroll onto 17L undetected? pic.twitter.com/meL5JuLoxX
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) May 9, 2026
Sean Duffy, transportation secretary, confirmed the dead person was a “trespasser,” explaining, “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 takeoff procedures immediately. The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded.”
Duffy said 12 people were hurt, including five taken to a hospital for treatement.
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport,” the secretary urged.
Airport officials notified the National Transportation Safety Board and closed the part of the runway that was involved.
Frontier said “As flight 4345 was departing this evening from Denver International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, the aircraft reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff. Smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff. Passengers were then safely evacuated via slides as a matter of precaution. The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.”
The Daily Mail explained the trespasser “was at least partially consumed by one of the engines.”
The jet pilots had told Air Traffic Control: “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire. … There was an individual walking across the runway.”
