An apparent trespasser who was fatally struck by a Frontier Airlines plane at a Colorado airport (Image: The Mirror)
A pilot’s chilling four-word warning was captured in air traffic control audio after a person was reportedly sucked into a passenger jet’s engine during a horror incident at Denver International Airport. “We just hit somebody,” the pilot of a Frontier Airlines flight told the control tower after aborting take-off on Friday night.
The terrifying moment unfolded as Flight 4345 accelerated down the runway bound for Los Angeles International Airport before striking a man who had allegedly jumped an airport perimeter fence moments earlier. Seconds after the impact, the pilot urgently radioed controllers: “We have an engine fire.” Smoke then filled the cabin of the Airbus A321 as frightened passengers prepared for an emergency evacuation. All 224 passengers onboard escaped using inflatable slides after firefighters rushed to extinguish the blaze. Frontier Airlines later said: “We are deeply saddened by this event.”
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Authorities said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, with five taken to hospital. Their conditions remain unclear.
According to airport officials, the unnamed trespasser scaled a perimeter fence just two minutes before the collision.
Air traffic control recordings show the aircraft had only just been cleared for departure before the chaos erupted.
After a short pause, the pilot told the tower: “We’re stopping on the runway.”
He then added: “There was an individual walking across the runway.”
“We have 231 souls on board,” the pilot said, including seven crew members.
Twelve passengers suffered minor injuries after the incident, with five taken to nearby hospitals (Image: The Mirror)
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the aircraft had been travelling at “high speed” when it struck the individual.
“Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway,” Mr Duffy said.
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport,” he added.
Commercial airliners typically reach take-off speeds of between 150mph and 180mph.
Denver International Airport said the person involved is not believed to have been an airport employee.
The unnamed individual had leapt over a perimeter fence two minutes before the impact (Image: The City and County of Denver)
“The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact,” airport officials said.
Passenger Jose Cervantes described the terrifying scenes inside the aircraft after hearing a loud bang.
“I just see the right wing just on fire and like, it’s exploding,” he told CBS.
“I thought I was going to burn to death,” he added. “You know, when I just saw the fire and the smoke, I just thought I was going to burn.”
Passengers were later bused back to the terminal while emergency crews swarmed the runway.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating the incident.
Denver International Airport said: “We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved.”
