Moment plane ‘hits person on runway’ then catches on fire

This is the moment a pilot tells air traffic control his plane has ‘hit somebody’ on the runway.

A Frontier Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport after reportedly hitting a pedestrian late on Friday night.

The engine had caught fire and smoke was filling the aircraft, according to the airline.

The plane then reportedly struck a pedestrian at 10:15pm on the runway.

In a recording obtained by ABC News, the pilot can be heard telling air traffic control: ‘Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway.

‘Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire.’

Later, the pilot said: ‘We’ve got smoke on the aircraft, we’re gonna evacuate on the runway.’

The more than 200 passengers then had to evacuate the flight using slides with emergency services dispatched to extinguish the fire.

The plane was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members and was due to land at Los Angeles International Airport at 12:16am.

In a statement from the airline, Frontier said: ‘We are deeply saddened by this event.

‘We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.’

ABC News said that one passenger suffered minor injuries.

A statement from Denver International Airport read: ‘Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026. There was a brief engine fire that was promptly extinguished by the Denver Fire Dept.

‘Emergency crews responded to the scene and bussed passengers to the terminal. 231 souls were on board. Emergency response and investigation are ongoing. The NTSB has been notified. Runway 17L will remain closed while the investigation is conducted.’

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