Colorado officials say jet fatally hit pedestrian on runway

Local officials on Monday continued to investigate the death of a suspected trespasser at Denver International Airport over the weekend. Passengers aboard Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 made an emergency evacuation on Friday night after a person was struck during the high-speed takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Footage from passengers appeared to show smoke in the cabin of the plane after a wing engine ignited during takeoff. New surveillance footage also showed a person appearing to walk on the tarmac before impact, according to local news outlet KDVR. Emergency responders reported human limbs on the runway soon after the incident, according to radio traffic recorded on Broadcastify.

What was the person doing on the runway? The deceased individual appeared to jump the airport’s perimeter fence about two minutes before he was hit while crossing the runway, according to a Saturday statement from the Denver airport. The individual has not been identified and is not believed to be an airport employee, the airport added.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy characterized the deceased individual as a trespasser who breached airport security by deliberately scaling the tarmac fence and running onto a runway. The pedestrian was struck during a high-speed takeoff, prompting the pilot to immediately stop the takeoff and evacuate the plane, Duffy said. About 12 people on board reported injuries from the incident, and five were taken to the hospital.

Have they identified the deceased person? WORLD reached out to the Denver Police Department and the Denver County Sheriff for an update on the injured individuals and for any known information about the alleged trespasser’s identity. This story will be updated with any responses received.

The FAA told WORLD on Monday that there were no further investigative updates regarding the individual’s identity or motive. The National Transportation Safety Board told WORLD that the incident fell outside the agency’s purview and that local officials would lead the case.

Denver airport CEO Phil Washington characterized the incident as a horrible and preventable tragedy in a Monday statement to WORLD. Airport officials are actively investigating the death alongside other agencies, and it will take time to confirm information before sharing more updates with the public, he said.