Passengers speak out after plane hit person causing engine to explode, with audio released

A Frontier Airlines plane carrying over 200 passengers hit and killed a person on the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night (8 May).

The airport said in a statement that 'Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 pm on Friday', sparking an engine fire and evacuation of the aircraft.

"DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway. The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified," the airport said in a statement shared on X.

On Saturday, a spokesperson said: "12 people reported minor injuries and five of these were transported to local hospitals".

In an update, they added that 'the accident scene has been cleared and Runway 17L has reopened'.

A Frontier Airlines plane fatally struck a person during takeoff at Denver airport (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

We thought we were 'going to die'

A dad and his two sons were on the flight to LA when the individual got sucked into their plane’s engine.

“When the engine blew up, I thought, ‘Oh s**t, we’re all going to die,” John Anthens, 56, told the New York Post.

“My dad said when the engine fire went up, he was able to see the legs of a human spinning around in the engine…which sounds like emotional trauma to me,” his son Jacob, 30, explained.

“I would say the majority of people didn’t know what was going on or what happened, but there was just a big explosion,” John added.

“And obviously, you hear a big explosion, people start screaming, kids are crying, and it was horrific.”

Passengers were forced to evacuate onto the runway (TikTok)

Chilling audio released

According to audio first reported by TMZ, an air traffic control employee warns pilots of 'a party walking on the runway' just two minutes before the incident.

"Sorry for the delay, it's Reggie from command and runway 17935 is closed. I do have, urm, limbs on the runway. I believe the aircraft struck an individual," is heard in the footage.

"We do have damage to the number two engine," someone else is then heard saying about the aircraft. "Looks like we have fuel on the ground but no smoke or fire."

In a statement, Denver Airport added: "Emergency crews responded to the scene and bussed passengers to the terminal. 231 souls were on board. Emergency response and investigation are ongoing."

LADbible Group has contacted Frontier Airlines for comment.