A Frontier Airlines plane struck a pedestrian on the runway while preparing for takeoff at Denver International Airport late Friday, prompting an aborted takeoff, reports of smoke in the cabin and an emergency evacuation.
The aircraft, Flight 4345, was bound for Los Angeles International Airport when the incident occurred at around 11:19 pm, airport authorities said.
According to air traffic control audio, the pilot told the control tower: “We’re stopping on the runway. We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot later reported that there were “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”
Airport and airline officials did not immediately disclose the condition of the pedestrian.
Frontier said the Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. The airline said smoke was reported inside the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff, though it was not immediately clear whether the smoke was related to the collision.
Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides and transported by bus back to the terminal.
The airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that Runway 17L would remain closed while the incident is investigated.