Frontier Flight Evacuated After Striking Pedestrian on Denver Runway

A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles struck and killed a pedestrian who breached security at Denver International Airport on Friday night. The incident occurred around 11:19 p.m. local time as Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, was preparing for takeoff. The pedestrian, who scaled the airport perimeter fence, was hit by the aircraft and partially consumed by one of its engines, causing a brief fire that was extinguished by Denver firefighters. Smoke filled the cabin, prompting pilots to abort takeoff and evacuate all passengers via emergency slides. Twelve passengers reported minor injuries, with five transported to local hospitals. The runway, 17L, remained closed for investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was notified and is coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airport officials, and local law enforcement. Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident and expressed condolences, stating it is investigating the event in coordination with safety authorities. The circumstances surrounding the pedestrian's presence on the runway remain unclear, though officials do not believe the individual was an airport employee. Passengers were later transported to the terminal and rescheduled on a new Frontier flight to Los Angeles.