WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Horrifying new CCTV footage has captured the chilling final moments before a man was fatally sucked into the engine of a Frontier Airlines plane after allegedly breaching security and walking onto an active runway at Denver International Airport in Colorado.
Authorities said the man climbed over the airport’s perimeter fence before making his way onto the runway shortly before the collision involving Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, bound for Los Angeles, USA, at about 11.19pm on Friday local time.
The surveillance video, released by the City and County of Denver, shows the unidentified man walking across the tarmac moments before stepping directly into the path of the moving aircraft as it accelerated for takeoff.
Flight tracking data suggested the Airbus A321neo was travelling at nearly 224km/h during takeoff when it struck the man.
“Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.
“The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
Air traffic control audio published by aviation website ATC.com revealed the frantic moments immediately after the collision, with the pilot aborting takeoff and reporting the aircraft had struck a person on the runway.
“Tower, Frontier 4345. We’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody ... and we have an engine fire,” the pilot said.
The tower responded: “Frontier 4345, I see that ... I’m going to roll the trucks now. Can you advise souls on board and fuel remaining?”
“Frontier 4345, we have 231 souls on board and 21,320 pounds of fuel on board,” the pilot replied. “There was an individual walking across the runway.”
The pilot later reported smoke inside the cabin before an emergency evacuation was initiated.
Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides as firefighters rushed to the scene. Authorities said 12 people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, with five transported to local hospitals.
Earlier footage from inside the cabin appeared to show confused passengers investigating and taking photos of the damaged engine, seemingly unaware a person had been struck on the runway moments earlier.
Frontier Airlines confirmed the aircraft struck a pedestrian during takeoff and said passengers were evacuated “as a matter of precaution”.
The victim has not yet been publicly identified, with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration investigating the incident.
