Trespasser hit, killed by Frontier plane on airport runway, with 12 others hurt: Duffy
A trespasser was struck and killed by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at Denver International Airport, causing an aborted takeoff and injuring 12 people, including five hospitalized. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the incident involved a breach of airport security, with law enforcement and the NTSB investigating the runway closure on 17L.
A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a trespasser on a runway at Denver International Airport during an aborted takeoff late Friday night, according to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The trespasser deliberately scaled a perimeter fence and ran onto the runway, where they were hit by Frontier Flight 4345 at high speed. The pilot immediately halted takeoff procedures, and passengers evacuated the aircraft after smoke was reported in the cabin. Twelve people were injured in the incident, with five taken to hospitals, according to authorities. Law enforcement, which handles airport security, is leading the investigation with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Denver Airport confirmed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident occurred, would remain closed pending the investigation. Frontier Airlines issued a statement confirming the aborted takeoff due to smoke in the cabin but did not specify whether the smoke was linked to the collision. The airport expects runway 17L to reopen later in the day, though no further details on the timeline were provided. The incident has prompted renewed calls for stricter airport security measures, with Duffy emphasizing that trespassing on airport property poses severe risks.
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