Frontier Jet Hits Pedestrian on Denver Runway, Aborts Takeoff

A Frontier Airlines jet struck a pedestrian on a runway at Denver International Airport late Friday night, prompting pilots to abort takeoff amid reports of an engine fire and cabin smoke, according to the airline and airport officials.

The incident involved Flight 4345, an Airbus A321 bound for Los Angeles International Airport, carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. The plane was accelerating for departure from Runway 17L around 11:15 p.m. local time when the pilots reported striking an individual walking across the runway, air traffic control audio indicated. "Tower, Frontier 4345, we're stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody... we have an engine fire," one pilot told controllers. The crew later noted 231 people on board and more than 21,000 pounds of fuel before announcing smoke in the aircraft and the need to evacuate on the runway.

Passengers were safely evacuated using emergency slides as a precaution, and emergency crews responded promptly. The Denver Fire Department extinguished a brief engine fire, airport officials said in a statement early Saturday. Passengers were then bused back to the terminal for evaluation. No injuries among those on board...