A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff at Denver International Airport late Friday [1].

The incident highlights critical security vulnerabilities at one of the busiest airports in the U.S. and the immediate dangers of runway incursions.

According to reports, the individual was a trespasser who had illegally entered the active runway area by jumping the airport perimeter fence [4]. The collision occurred as the aircraft was attempting to depart. Following the impact, the flight crew aborted the takeoff and evacuated the plane [2].

Cockpit audio captured the immediate aftermath of the strike. "We just hit somebody," a Frontier Airlines pilot said [3].

Emergency responders arrived on the scene to manage the evacuation and the casualty. One person died in the incident [1]. Additionally, reports indicate that 12 people were injured [5].

A Frontier Airlines spokesperson said, "A Frontier Airlines plane reportedly struck a pedestrian on a runway at Denver International Airport late Friday" [3].

Airport officials and federal authorities are investigating how the individual managed to breach the perimeter security to reach an active runway. The aircraft involved was evacuated to ensure the safety of the passengers, and crew following the emergency abort.

“"We just hit somebody"”

This event underscores the high stakes of perimeter security at major aviation hubs. A single breach of a fence can lead to a fatal runway incursion, forcing emergency evacuations and disrupting air traffic. The investigation will likely focus on the specific failure point in the airport's physical security and whether surveillance systems failed to alert ground control to the intruder's presence in real time.