Frontier plane fatally strikes a person walking on runway at Denver International Airport

A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a person on the runway at Denver International Airport late Friday night, forcing pilots to abort takeoff and triggering an emergency evacuation.

The incident happened around 11:19 p.m. local time as Frontier Flight 4345, an Airbus A321, was departing Denver for Los Angeles with 224 passengers and seven crew members, Frontier said in a statement.

The person on the runway was at least partially consumed by one of the engines, causing a brief engine fire that firefighters later extinguished. Smoke was also reported inside the cabin, an official told ABC News. Passengers were evacuated from the plane using emergency slides as a precaution and taken back to the terminal by bus.

“DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway,” an airport spokesperson told The Independent Saturday. “The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport, nor have they been identified. The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact.”

The airport spokesperson added that 12 people reported minor injuries during the evacuation, and five were taken to local hospitals. Runway 17L remained closed Saturday morning as investigators examined the scene, though officials expected it to reopen within a few hours.

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“We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities. We are deeply saddened by this event,” Frontier told The Independent in a statement Saturday.

TheNTSB added in a separate statment, “NTSB is coordinating with the FAA, Denver airport operations and local law enforcement to collect information about the event but we do not have any details to share at this time.”

The Denver Police Department confirmed it is assisting with the investigation but declined to provide any further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

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The incident follows a separate safety scare involving Frontier about a month earlier, when one of its jets narrowly avoided colliding with two trucks that crossed in front of it on a taxiway at Los Angeles International Airport. The plane was moving slowly at the time when the driver had to suddenly brake to avoid impact.

During communications with air traffic control, the pilot expressed alarm and used an expletive, reporting that he had to slam on the brakes to prevent a collision.

"It happened so fast," the pilot said in audio posted by ATC.com. "I have to go check on the flight attendants in the back. It was real close, closest I've ever seen."

No one was injured in the LAX incident.

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