Denver Airport Intruder Dies After Being Hit by Frontier Airlines Plane

A person who reportedly jumped a perimeter fence at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines aircraft during takeoff late Friday night, airport authorities confirmed.

The incident involved Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles, carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. Airport officials said the individual breached the airport perimeter and was hit by the aircraft just minutes later while crossing Runway 17L.

According to officials, the collision triggered a brief engine fire and smoke inside the aircraft cabin, forcing the pilots to abort takeoff and initiate an emergency evacuation using inflatable slides.

Denver International Airport said 12 passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation, while five people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. All passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft.

Frontier Airlines expressed condolences over the incident and said it was cooperating fully with investigators, including airport authorities, local law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Authorities said the deceased individual has not yet been identified and is not believed to be an airport employee. Investigators are also examining how the person gained access to the restricted airfield area, although airport officials stated the perimeter fence appeared intact after inspection.

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the pilot informing controllers that the aircraft had struck someone during takeoff before reporting smoke and possible fire onboard. Emergency crews later extinguished the engine fire, and the runway was reopened after investigators cleared the scene.