‘We just hit somebody’ – Pilot’s chilling words after Frontier plane strikes, kills runway trespasser at Denver

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 Airlines plane killed a runway trespasser at Denver International Airport on Friday night after the individual jumped a perimeter fence moments before the aircraft began its takeoff roll toward Los Angeles.

A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a trespasser on a runway at Denver International Airport late Friday night, triggering an engine fire and emergency evacuation of all 224 passengers aboard.

The pilot aborted takeoff of Flight 4345, bound for Los Angeles, after the aircraft hit the individual at high speed around 23:00 local time. “We just hit somebody,” the pilot told air traffic control. “We have an engine fire.”

Denver Fire Department quickly extinguished the blaze. All passengers evacuated via inflatable emergency slides, with 12 reporting minor injuries and five hospitalised.

The unnamed individual had jumped a perimeter fence just two minutes before impact. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the breach, saying: “No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation while the runway remained closed. The trespasser is not believed to have been an airport employee.

🚨#BREAKING: Watch as a Frontier Airlines aircraft forced to make an emergency after a pedestrian on the runway was struck and sucked into one of the jet’s engines⁰⁰ 📌#Denver | #Colorado

Watch as horrifying footage from earlier this morning shows the moment Frontier Flight… pic.twitter.com/jvaWjzvMey

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 9, 2026