Recently, an incident involving a Frontier Airlines flight at Denver International Airport raised serious safety concerns. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Sunday that it is looking into the evacuation after the plane struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff.
The flight, which was en route to Los Angeles International Airport, reported hitting a person on the runway around 11:19 p.m. on Friday. This tragic event led to the evacuation of passengers via emergency slides, with the emergency crew transporting them to the terminal afterward. An airport spokesperson confirmed that 12 passengers sustained minor injuries, while five required hospital treatment.
Evacuation Concerns
Passengers expressed their worries about the evacuation process. Many were trapped inside the plane for several minutes as smoke filled the cabin, and those who exited had to endure the cold weather on the tarmac. Some videos showed passengers descending the slides while carrying their luggage, which is against standard evacuation protocols.
NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick stated, “We are gathering information about the emergency evacuation to determine if it meets criteria for a safety investigation.” More details are expected as the investigation unfolds.
Unanswered Questions
The Denver Police Department is continuing its investigation, with the identity of the pedestrian to be released by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. Phil Washington, the CEO of Denver International Airport, acknowledged the need for answers and stressed that this incident was a “horrible and preventable tragedy.”
Reports indicate that the pedestrian crossed the runway just two minutes after jumping a fence, a situation that the airport confirmed was not involving an airport employee.
Pilot’s Response
The pilot communicated with the control tower, saying, “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.” The aircraft had 231 people on board when the pilot reported smoke in the cabin and decided to evacuate.
Frontier Airlines confirmed that flight 4345 was involved in the collision and noted that the smoke in the cabin’s cause is still being assessed.
Passenger Experiences
Many passengers described the situation as chaotic. Mohamed Hassan, a passenger, shared, “Honestly, I thought I was going to die.” He recalled the fear and panic that erupted when smoke filled the cabin. Another passenger, Nikil Thalanki, noted the sudden jerk of the plane just before takeoff, followed by sparks and smoke that made it hard to breathe.
Passenger Kimberly Randle recounted how people rushed to escape as soon as the doors opened, describing the scene as one of chaos.
Safety Concerns in Evacuations
The NTSB has long been concerned about how evacuations are handled, especially when passengers attempt to grab their luggage during emergencies. In a recent report, the NTSB highlighted how panic can affect the evacuation process, leading to dangerous situations.
This incident follows another tragedy in which a Delta Air Lines employee was killed at Orlando International Airport, prompting calls for increased safety measures across the industry.
As investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding this incident and improving safety protocols to protect passengers and crew members alike.
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AP reporter John Raby contributed from Charleston, West Virginia.
