Trending Now - Frontier Airlines Flight Involved in Runway Incident at Denver Airport

WHO:

CNN - Frontier Airlines, Denver International Airport, Denver Fire Department, Denver Sheriff’s Department

ABC News - Frontier Airlines flight crew, 224 passengers, 7 crew members

WHAT:

CNN - A Frontier Airlines plane reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff.

CNN - Flight 4345, an Airbus A321, was scheduled to depart for Los Angeles.

CNN - The aircraft aborted takeoff after the incident, and passengers were evacuated via slides.

CNN - There was a brief engine fire that was quickly extinguished.

CNN - The pilot reported that the plane "hit somebody" and there were 231 people on board with more than 21,000 pounds of fuel.

WHERE:

CNN - Denver International Airport, specifically runway 17L

WHEN:

CNN - The incident occurred late Friday night, with the flight scheduled to depart at 10:39 p.m. local time and the report of striking a pedestrian at approximately 11:19 p.m. local time.

CNN - The plane was accelerating at about 146 miles an hour at roughly 11:15 p.m. local time.

WHY:

CNN - The incident is under investigation by Frontier Airlines in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.

HOW:

CNN - Passengers were evacuated via slides as a precaution after the aircraft aborted takeoff.

(UPDATED May 9, 2026 09:21 UTC)

A Frontier Airlines plane struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff at Denver International Airport, leading to an aborted departure of Flight 4345, which was scheduled to head to Los Angeles. The Airbus A321, carrying 224 passengers and 7 crew members, was accelerating at about 146 miles per hour when the incident occurred, and a brief engine fire was quickly extinguished. Passengers were evacuated via slides as authorities, including Frontier Airlines and the Denver Fire Department, launched an investigation into the incident.