Horrifying new surveillance footage has revealed the final moments before a Frontier Airlines plane fatally struck a trespasser on an active runway at Denver International Airport, triggering panic onboard and a fiery emergency evacuation.
The incident unfolded late Friday night as Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 prepared to depart Denver for Los Angeles with more than 230 people onboard. Authorities say the unidentified individual breached airport security, crossed onto the runway, and walked directly into the path of the accelerating aircraft.
New Video Captures Final Moments on Runway
Recently released CCTV footage reportedly shows the man calmly walking across the runway moments before the collision.
The Airbus A321neo was already moving at high speed during takeoff when the individual entered the aircraft’s path. Reports state the victim was aligned with one of the jet’s engines at the moment of impact.
According to flight data, the aircraft had reached approximately 223km/h before pilots attempted to abort takeoff.
Air traffic control audio captured the stunned cockpit crew reporting: “We just hit somebody.”
Engine Fire Sparks Chaos Onboard
Passengers onboard described terrifying scenes after the collision as smoke reportedly filled parts of the cabin and one engine caught fire.
Emergency slides were deployed as frightened travellers evacuated onto the runway in darkness while emergency crews rushed toward the aircraft. Twelve passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, with five transported to hospital.
One passenger told local media he witnessed “the legs of a human spinning around in the engine” immediately after the impact.
Video taken after the evacuation showed passengers standing on the tarmac while flames and smoke surrounded the aircraft.
Officials Confirm Security Breach
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the victim had deliberately breached airport security by scaling a perimeter fence before entering the runway area.
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport,” Duffy wrote in a statement shared online.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victim, and investigators are still trying to determine how the person managed to access one of the airport’s active runways despite existing security systems.
Investigation Now Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating both the runway breach and the emergency evacuation process.
Questions are also being raised about airport perimeter security after officials reportedly found no obvious damage to the fence surrounding the airfield.
The runway involved in the incident was temporarily shut down following the collision.
