NTSB Probes Fatal Pedestrian Strike by Frontier Plane at Denver Airport

Federal investigators are looking into a deadly incident at Denver International Airport, where a pedestrian was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the probe after the person was hit by the plane’s engine while walking across a runway. New video footage, which has been stopped before the point of impact, shows the individual crossing the tarmac moments before the collision.

The incident occurred Friday night. Airport officials confirmed that the person was trespassing after hopping a fence and is not believed to be an airport employee.

Following the strike, smoke filled the cabin of the Frontier jet. Passengers aboard were evacuated using the aircraft’s emergency slides.

Passengers described moments of panic.

“It was like boom. And then you see the flames come and then the smoke comes and it’s just horrible,” one passenger said.

Another added: “I couldn’t see the engines, but people that could see the engines could see large flames. And it was really scary. So people were really shaken up.”

The NTSB has not yet released the identity of the deceased pending notification of next of kin. The investigation remains active.