Terrified families flee on slides after plane engine ‘partially consumes’ pedestrian

A Frontier Airlines flight was forced into an emergency evacuation after the aircraft struck and killed a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport during takeoff

Chilling footage has captured the moment panicked holidaymakers were forced to flee a Frontier Airlines jet on emergency slides after a pedestrian was killed on the runway. The horror unfolded at Denver International Airport as the Los Angeles-bound flight was accelerating for takeoff.

The aircraft struck a person who had reportedly scaled a perimeter fence and wandered into the path of the jet, leading to a fatal collision. Reports suggest the victim was “partially consumed” by one of the plane’s engines, sparking a terrifying blaze.

Dramatic clips shared on social media show orange sparks erupting from the right wing engine as passengers inside the cabin realise something has gone catastrophically wrong.

In the aftermath, the 231 people on board were filmed sliding down emergency chutes onto the tarmac in the dead of night.

One responder can be heard shouting at the shell-shocked families to move away from the damaged aircraft. Air traffic control audio has revealed the moment the pilot realised the scale of the tragedy.

The pilot told controllers: “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody…we have an engine fire.”

As the situation escalated, the cockpit crew confirmed the headcount and the deteriorating conditions inside the plane.

“We have 231 souls on board… There was an individual walking across the runway,” the pilot said, before later adding: “We’ve got smoke on the aircraft, we’re gonna evacuate on the runway.”

A spokesperson for Denver Airport confirmed the unidentified individual had jumped a fence and was struck just two minutes later. It is understood the victim was not an airport employee.

Frontier Airlines confirmed that Flight 4345 was forced to abort its takeoff after “smoke was reported in the cabin.”

In a statement, the airline said: “Passengers were then safely evacuated via slides as a matter of precaution. The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.

“We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities. We are deeply saddened by this event.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been notified of the incident. This runway tragedy comes just 24 hours after a Delta Air Lines worker was killed in a separate incident at Orlando International Airport.

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