A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles turned chaotic late Friday when the jet struck a person walking across a runway at Denver International Airport, forcing the pilots to abort takeoff and evacuate passengers on the tarmac. The crew reported smoke in the cabin and said one of the engines had caught fire as emergency responders rushed to the scene. Airport operations were briefly disrupted while investigators collected evidence and crews worked to clear and reopen the area.
What we know
Recordings of air traffic control capture the pilot telling controllers that "the engine caught fire" and that the aircraft needed to be evacuated, according to NBC Los Angeles. The audio indicates there were 231 people on board and that the flight had been scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 12:16 a.m. The trip was later pushed to a Saturday morning departure.
Runway safety and investigations
Runway incursions, defined as the incorrect presence of a person, vehicle, or aircraft within a runway's protected area, are closely tracked and classified by the Federal Aviation Administration, which maintains that even a single incursion is unacceptable. In recent years, the agency has been rolling out surface-safety technology and conducting additional audits to cut down on those incidents.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, officials routinely review tower recordings and incident data to determine what went wrong and what corrective steps are needed after events like this.
Passengers and flight status
Passengers were evacuated onto the tarmac while ground crews inspected the aircraft. Authorities have not yet released information about the person who was struck, including the extent of their injuries. Per NBC Los Angeles, the airline worked to reschedule affected travelers following the incident.
Why this matters
The episode comes at a time when regulators and airports are already on edge following a deadly March collision at LaGuardia Airport, in which an Air Canada Express regional jet struck a Port Authority rescue vehicle. That crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
High-profile surface incidents like these have pushed lawmakers and the FAA to press for more aggressive monitoring and tighter procedures at the busiest airports in the country.
This is a developing story and will be updated as officials release additional details and statements.
