Following the incident at Denver International Airport in which a Frontier Airlines aircraft struck and killed a person on the runway, the NTSB has launched a review of the emergency evacuation process on board the aircraft. Twelve people were injured in the incident.
The safety board stated that it is gathering information regarding the aircraft evacuation after a person was struck and killed on the runway in Denver.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is collecting information related to the evacuation of the Frontier Airlines aircraft that struck and killed a person during takeoff from Denver International Airport.
According to a statement shared on the airport’s official X account, the flight bound for Los Angeles International Airport “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. Friday.” The identity of the deceased has not been disclosed publicly.
Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft using emergency slides and transported back to the terminal by buses. An airport spokesperson said that 12 passengers sustained minor injuries, while five people were taken to hospital. No additional details were provided regarding the nature of the injuries. However, some passengers expressed concerns about the evacuation process, stating that they were kept on board for several minutes while the cabin filled with smoke and were later left on the apron in cold weather conditions.
NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick told the Associated Press on Sunday, “We are gathering information to determine whether the emergency evacuation meets the criteria for a safety investigation.”
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on Saturday that the deceased was a “trespasser” who breached airport security and “intentionally climbed over a restricted-access fence and ran onto the runway.”
In a post on X, Duffy said, “The runway trespasser was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during a high-speed takeoff roll.” He also confirmed that 12 people were injured and that five of them were taken to hospital. He added that fire crews also responded to the scene.
Duffy stated that the investigation into the security breach would be conducted by local law enforcement authorities with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Frontier Airlines stated that the Airbus A321 aircraft involved in the incident “was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.” The airline also said, “We are investigating this incident and gathering additional information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”
A video believed to have been recorded by a passenger and circulated on social media reportedly showed the moment the person was struck. A loud impact sound and people screaming could be heard in the footage.
The Friday night incident at Denver International Airport occurred just one day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed on Thursday night at Orlando International Airport in Florida. According to local broadcaster WESH, the employee died in an accident caused by a vehicle striking a jet bridge next to a passenger aircraft.
