A terrifying aviation incident unfolded late Friday night at Denver International Airport after a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles reportedly struck a person on the runway during takeoff, leading to an engine fire and an emergency evacuation of passengers.
According to early reports and air traffic control communications, the Frontier Airlines aircraft was accelerating for departure when the crew encountered an individual on the runway. Moments later, one of the plane’s engines reportedly caught fire, forcing pilots to abort takeoff procedures and initiate an emergency response on the tarmac.
Passengers aboard the flight described chaotic scenes as smoke was seen coming from the aircraft while emergency crews rushed toward the plane. Frontier flight attendants and pilots quickly evacuated passengers directly onto the runway using emergency slides. Initial reports suggest that most onboard escaped safely, with only minor injuries reported during the evacuation process.
The incident occurred at Denver International Airport and involved a flight operated by Frontier Airlines headed toward Los Angeles.
Live air traffic control recordings circulating online indicated that pilots informed controllers about both a runway strike and a possible engine fire shortly after rejecting takeoff. Aviation observers monitoring the emergency stated that smoke was also reported inside the cabin before passengers were evacuated onto the runway.
Authorities have not yet officially identified the person believed to have been struck on the runway, and investigators are working to determine how an individual gained access to an active runway area at one of America’s busiest airports. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to launch a full investigation into the incident.
The shocking event comes amid heightened scrutiny over aviation safety incidents across the United States in recent months, including several high-profile engine fires and emergency evacuations involving commercial aircraft.
Videos and eyewitness accounts from the scene quickly spread across social media overnight, showing emergency vehicles surrounding the aircraft as passengers evacuated in darkness on the runway.
Frontier Airlines has not yet released a full official statement regarding the cause of the fire or the status of the passengers and crew. Airport operations at Denver International Airport were temporarily disrupted as emergency responders secured the area.
