WASHINGTON/DENVER: A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff, sparking an engine fire and forcing the evacuation of passengers, airport authorities said.“DEN can confirm that the pedestrian jumped the fence and was struck just two minutes later while crossing the runway,” the statement said, adding that “the pedestrian is deceased, is not believed to be an airport employee and has not yet been identified.” ABC News quoted an official as saying the person was “at least partially consumed by one of the engines.”According to Frontier, the Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.According to audio from ATC.com, at 11:19 p.m. Friday, the pilot of Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 told air traffic controllers: “We’re stopped on the runway, we just hit someone, the engine is on fire… there’s someone walking across the runway.”Air traffic controllers responded that they were “moving trucks now,” and the pilot then told the tower they had “smoke coming from the aircraft. We’re going to evacuate on the runway.”The plane was quickly evacuated and the 12 passengers on board reported minor injuries. Five people were taken to local hospitals, the airport said. The Denver Fire Department said the brief engine fire was extinguished.Transport Minister Sean Duffy said local law enforcement was investigating the incident. “No one should trespass on the airport,” he wrote on the X.Airport authorities said they had inspected the fence line and found it intact. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified of the incident and Runway 17L will remain closed during the investigation.
