New surveillance footage has revealed the horrifying moment a person trespassing on a runway at Denver International Airport was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane on Saturday, May 9. The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was seen calmly walking across the tarmac before being sucked into one of the engines of an Airbus A321neo during takeoff.
Incident Details
The trespasser jumped the perimeter fence and entered the runway at 11:19 p.m., according to airport officials. Security video released by the City and County of Denver shows the individual walking with little urgency from one side of the runway to the other, directly in the path of the aircraft. The person appeared to align perfectly with the plane's engine, and part of their upper body was pulled inside upon impact.
The collision occurred roughly two minutes after the individual hopped the fence, as reported by KHOU 11. FlightAware data indicates the plane was moving at 139 miles per hour at the time of the crash.
Official Statements
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the trespasser breached security and ran onto the runway. He emphasized in a post on X that no one should ever trespass on an airport. Passenger John Anthens, who was on the plane with his sons, described witnessing the victim's legs spinning in the engine. He recounted that most passengers were unaware of what had happened, but a loud explosion caused panic, with people screaming and children crying.
Anthens noted that the nose of the plane jerked upward on impact, and a bomb-like explosion rattled the cabin. The engine burst into flames moments later, but passengers remained seated as instructed by flight attendants. All 224 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated using emergency slides. Anthens' son photographed the mangled engine, which was covered in the victim's flesh and blood.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident. The airport confirmed that the trespasser had breached security before the fatal collision.
