Frontier jet kills pedestrian on Denver runway, forcing evacuation of 231

A Frontier Airlines jet bound for Los Angeles struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport late Friday, triggering an engine fire and forcing the emergency evacuation of all 231 people aboard, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The fatal runway incursion on a Los Angeles-bound flight underscores vulnerabilities in airport perimeter security. Authorities are examining the east perimeter fence at Denver International Airport after determining the pedestrian had no apparent connection to authorized maintenance work on a parallel runway.

Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, was accelerating for takeoff at approximately 11:19 p.m. local time when it struck the pedestrian, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The person was at least partially consumed by one of the plane's engines, sparking a fire and smoke inside the cabin.

"Tower, Frontier 4345, we're stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody... we have an engine fire," the pilot radioed to air traffic control, according to audio obtained by ATC.com.

In a follow-up transmission, the pilot confirmed the extent of the emergency. "We have 231 souls on board... There was an individual walking across the runway," the pilot said, according to ATC.com.

The flight crew then ordered a full emergency evacuation. "We've got smoke on the aircraft, we're gonna evacuate on the runway," the pilot told the tower, according to the audio. All 231 occupants escaped via emergency slides; at least one passenger suffered a minor injury. Denver Fire Department crews extinguished the engine fire.

Frontier Airlines said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened by this event" and confirmed passengers were evacuated "via slides as a matter of precaution." The airline said it was gathering more information "in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities," according to the statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board was notified of the incident, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Denver International Airport officials said security personnel inspected the east perimeter fence for gaps. The pedestrian did not appear to be connected to maintenance work that was occurring on a parallel runway at the time, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

Flight 4345 had been scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, a primary hub for Orange County travelers. The NTSB investigation is expected to examine both perimeter security protocols and runway access controls at Denver International Airport.