Frontier Airlines plane strikes pedestrian at Denver International Airport

On the night of Friday, May 8, 2026, a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo struck a person walking on the runway at Denver International Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. local time as the aircraft, bound for Los Angeles, was attempting to take off. Air traffic control recordings indicate that the pilot reported a potential engine fire and smoke inside the cabin following the impact. The pilot subsequently declared an emergency, necessitating an immediate evacuation on the runway. Passengers exited the aircraft using emergency slides as a precautionary measure. There were 224 passengers and seven crew members on board at the time of the event. Frontier Airlines has confirmed the incident and is currently working with airport authorities and security officials to investigate the circumstances of the runway breach. The airline expressed condolences regarding the event, which resulted in significant damage to the aircraft.