What happened
Frontier Airlines flight F94345, operated by a two-year-old Airbus A321neo (N646FR), struck a pedestrian while taxiing for takeoff at Denver International Airport (DEN) on the evening of Friday, May 8, 2026. The incident occurred around 11:19 PM on runway 17L as the aircraft was accelerating for its scheduled flight to Los Angeles (LAX). ATC communications reveal the pilot reporting, "We just hit somebody," followed by confirmation of an engine fire. The pilot stated 231 souls were onboard and that an individual was walking across the runway. The aircraft reached approximately 127 knots before aborting. Smoke entered the cabin, prompting an evacuation on the runway. Denver Fire Department extinguished the fire, and passengers were bussed to the terminal. No injuries were reported among the passengers. The National Transportation Board has been notified, and runway 17L remained closed for investigation. The cause of the pedestrian's presence on the active runway is under review