A person who allegedly breached security fencing and entered a runway at Denver International Airport (DEN) was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines aircraft during takeoff, airport authorities said. The impact reportedly triggered an engine fire, prompting an emergency evacuation of passengers.
According to a statement from Denver International Airport, the incident has also left 17 people injured, including five who were hospitalised.
What happened at Denver airport? | WATCH
The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, "reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 pm on Friday," according to a post on the airport's official X account.
Trespasser was not an airport employee
The person reportedly jumped the airport's perimeter fence and ran onto the runway, where they were struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 just two minutes later. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene, while passengers were evacuated and transported by bus back to the terminal before later departing on a replacement flight.
"Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN. Emergency crews responded to the scene. Passengers were bussed to the terminal and the majority have since departed DEN on a new Frontier flight. DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway," the statement read.
Airport authorities confirmed that the perimeter fence was intact, and preliminary findings indicate the trespasser was not an airport employee and has yet to be identified. "The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified. The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact," the statement added.
The airport further added that Runway 17L remained closed temporarily for investigation. "We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved," the statement added.
FAA investigating incident
Following the incident, US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy condemned the breach, saying that the trespasser "deliberately scaled a perimeter fence and ran out onto a runway" during the takeoff.
In a post on X, Duffy stressed that airport security is the responsibility of local law enforcement and warned that "no one should ever trespass on an airport".
"A trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int'l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway. The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped the takeoff procedures immediately. The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded. Preliminary reports are 12 people were hurt, with 5 taken to the hospital," the post read.
He added that law enforcement agencies, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are investigating the incident.
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