Frontier Airlines Flight Aborts Takeoff After Striking Pedestrian

On Friday night, November 19, 2023, Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 was preparing to depart from Denver International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport when it struck a pedestrian on the runway. The incident occurred at approximately 11:19 PM, leading the crew to abort the takeoff.

Airport authorities confirmed that emergency crews quickly responded to the scene. A brief engine fire was reported but was extinguished.

Audio recordings from air traffic control captured the pilot's report of the aircraft striking an individual walking across the runway, which necessitated an immediate stop of the aircraft. Frontier Airlines later detected smoke inside the cabin, prompting an emergency evacuation using inflatable slides as a precautionary measure.

At the time of the incident, the Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. At least one passenger sustained minor injuries during the evacuation.

The identity of the pedestrian struck on the runway has not been disclosed, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified to investigate the ongoing incident.