Intruder Killed on Runway by US Passenger Plane, Engine Catches Fire, Passengers Evacuate
At Denver International Airport, a Frontier Airlines aircraft preparing for takeoff collided with an intruder on the runway, resulting in the intruder's death. An engine fire subsequently occurred, and passengers evacuated via emergency slides.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 10, 2026 at 04:32
- 🔍 Collected: May 10, 2026 at 05:01 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 10, 2026 at 05:02 (1 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Washington, May 9 Comprehensive Foreign Report) A Frontier Airlines flight preparing for takeoff at Denver International Airport last night hit an intruder on the runway. The individual died on the spot, and the aircraft engine subsequently caught fire, leading to chaos at the scene. Frightening footage of the incident has since been circulating online.
According to NBC News, Denver International Airport confirmed that Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, originally scheduled to fly to Los Angeles International Airport, reported hitting a person around 11:19 PM local time. The engine then caught fire, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.
Airport officials stated that the deceased had breached the airport fence and entered the runway approximately two minutes before the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest the individual was not an airport employee.
A passenger allegedly captured the moment of impact during the aircraft's takeoff and uploaded it to social media. The video reportedly features a loud bang followed by screams from passengers inside the cabin.
Nikil Thalanki, a passenger on board, told NBC affiliate KUSA that after the wheels briefly lifted off, they returned to the runway, and then the fire broke out.
He said, "Smoke filled the entire cabin, and it was really hard to breathe. They told us to sit down and wait, for about two, three, maybe four minutes, and then the emergency exits were opened."
Another passenger, Franco Valera, told KUSA that after hearing a loud bang, he looked out the window and saw the engine on fire.
He said, "As everyone was screaming and some people were standing up, I just tried to calm myself down. It was really scary."
It is currently unclear whether the engine fire was related to the impact incident.
Frontier Airlines stated that the narrow-body Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and 7 crew members. After the accident, the pilot aborted takeoff, and passengers subsequently evacuated via emergency slides.
Denver Airport reported that 12 people sustained minor injuries, with 5 of them transported to the hospital for treatment.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the incident on social media platform X today, writing: "An intruder breached Denver International Airport's security facilities, intentionally climbed over a fence and ran onto the runway."
Duffy wrote, "Nobody should ever intrude on an airport from the very beginning." (Compiled by Tsai Chia-min) 1150510
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(Central News Agency, Washington, May 9 Comprehensive Foreign Report) A Frontier Airlines flight preparing for takeoff at Denver International Airport last night hit an intruder on the runway. The individual died on the spot, and the aircraft engine subsequently caught fire, leading to chaos at the scene. Frightening footage of the incident has since been circulating online.
According to NBC News, Denver International Airport confirmed that Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, originally scheduled to fly to Los Angeles International Airport, reported hitting a person around 11:19 PM local time. The engine then caught fire, but the blaze was quickly extinguished.
Airport officials stated that the deceased had breached the airport fence and entered the runway approximately two minutes before the incident. Preliminary investigations suggest the individual was not an airport employee.
A passenger allegedly captured the moment of impact during the aircraft's takeoff and uploaded it to social media. The video reportedly features a loud bang followed by screams from passengers inside the cabin.
Nikil Thalanki, a passenger on board, told NBC affiliate KUSA that after the wheels briefly lifted off, they returned to the runway, and then the fire broke out.
He said, "Smoke filled the entire cabin, and it was really hard to breathe. They told us to sit down and wait, for about two, three, maybe four minutes, and then the emergency exits were opened."
Another passenger, Franco Valera, told KUSA that after hearing a loud bang, he looked out the window and saw the engine on fire.
He said, "As everyone was screaming and some people were standing up, I just tried to calm myself down. It was really scary."
It is currently unclear whether the engine fire was related to the impact incident.
Frontier Airlines stated that the narrow-body Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and 7 crew members. After the accident, the pilot aborted takeoff, and passengers subsequently evacuated via emergency slides.
Denver Airport reported that 12 people sustained minor injuries, with 5 of them transported to the hospital for treatment.
US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy confirmed the incident on social media platform X today, writing: "An intruder breached Denver International Airport's security facilities, intentionally climbed over a fence and ran onto the runway."
Duffy wrote, "Nobody should ever intrude on an airport from the very beginning." (Compiled by Tsai Chia-min) 1150510
Stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the "First-hand News" app from Central News Agency to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
Keywords: