A Frontier Airlines passenger plane struck and killed one person on a runway at Denver International Airport on the night of Friday, May 8.
This forced the pilots to abort takeoff when one of the engines caught fire and smoke filled the cockpit.
The aircraft involved was flight 4345, which consisted of an Airbus A321 carrying 224 people along with its crew of seven. At approximately 11:19 p.m., the plane had just begun takeoff toward Los Angeles International Airport.
The person’s identity is still unknown as the NTSB and FSS investigate how someone gained access to an active lead.
For now, it is unclear whether the person was an airport employee or an ordinary man.
Denver police have confirmed that they are now assisting with the investigation and “have no further information to provide at this time.”
How did the incident occur?
According to air traffic control audio, the plane’s pilot made an urgent call saying, “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit someone… we have an engine fire.”
“There was an individual walking on the runway,” the pilot added.
Runway 17L remains closed for now. The victim’s identity will be released once next of kin are notified.
