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Frontier Airlines Plane Strikes Person on Denver Runway, Catches Fire, Forcing Emergency Evacuation
A Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 struck and killed a pedestrian who scaled a perimeter fence and ran onto Runway 17L at Denver International Airport on May 9, 2026. All 224 passengers were evacuated safely after the plane aborted takeoff and caught fire. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and airport officials detailed the deliberate breach as investigations began.
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M. local time on May 9, 2026. The flight was bound for Los Angeles International Airport with 224 passengers aboard when the aircraft hit the person at high speed, experienced an engine fire and aborted its takeoff.
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The pilot of Flight 4345 reported hitting somebody and declared an engine fire. "We just hit somebody," the pilot said. " The deceased climbed over the perimeter fence and reached Runway 17L roughly two minutes before impact, according to Denver International Airport.
Frontier Airlines said the victim jumped over the perimeter fence two minutes before impact. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the trespasser deliberately scaled a perimeter fence and ran onto the runway. Duffy added that the aircraft hit the person at high speed.
An official confirmed to ABC News that the person was at least partially pulled into one of the engines. The deceased does not appear to be an airport employee. A later inspection of the fenceline turned up no gaps.
Security crews checked the east perimeter for breaches on the morning of May 10, 2026. No gaps were found in the fence. All 224 passengers were safely evacuated via inflatable emergency slides. Passengers were bused to the terminal after evacuation.
Denver Fire Department extinguished the fire within the cabin. Twelve people reported minor injuries. Five passengers were transported to nearby hospitals. The majority of passengers later departed Denver on a new Frontier flight.
Passenger Jose Cervantes felt the aircraft tilt up before hearing a thud. "I looked to my right, and I just see the right wing just on fire and like, it’s exploding," Cervantes said. He said the cabin filled with smoke and he feared burning alive.
