A Frontier Airlines aircraft hit a person on the runway at Denver International Airport during take-off, triggering an engine fire and prompting an emergency evacuation of passengers, according to authorities. The flight, operating as Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 from Denver to Los Angeles, was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members, totalling 231 people on board. According to air traffic control communication, the pilot reported an emergency situation shortly after the impact, stating that the aircraft had hit a person on the runway and that the engine had caught fire. The incident took place at approximately 11:19 p.m. local time while the Airbus A321 was accelerating for departure on Runway 17L. Engine fire and swift evacuation of passengers Following the collision, the aircraft’s engine reportedly caught fire, and smoke began filling the cabin, forcing the crew to declare an emergency. The pilot immediately alerted air traffic control, and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides directly onto the runway. Airport authorities confirmed that all travellers were safely removed from the aircraft and transported to the terminal by buses. Runway 17L was subsequently closed to facilitate emergency response and investigation work. Investigation launched by NTSB Preliminary reports suggest that a man was attempting to cross the runway when the collision occurred. He has been taken for medical treatment, though his condition has not yet been officially confirmed. Frontier Airlines has acknowledged the incident involving Flight 4345 and said it is cooperating fully with authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a detailed investigation to determine how the individual accessed the active runway and to examine the sequence of events leading to the collision and engine fire. Airport operations and security procedures are also expected to be reviewed as part of the probe.
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