Audio captures moment Frontier plane fatally struck pedestrian

Updated on: May 9, 2026 / 9:40 AM EDT / CBS News
An audio recording captures the moments after a Frontier Airlines flight struck a pedestrian while departing Denver International Airport on Friday.

Things begin smoothly, with the tower confirming the pilot is clear for takeoff and wishing the flight crew "a good night," according to audio from ATC.com.

About 30 seconds into the audio, the Frontier pilot says he is "stopping on the runway."
"We just hit somebody.

We have an engine fire," the pilot says.

Air traffic control staff provide instructions on how the plane can safely exit the runway.

When asked for more details, the pilot says there "was an individual walking across the runway." About 40 seconds later, the pilot reports "smoke in the aircraft" and says he will evacuate the plane on the runway.

The images also appear to show blood on the plane's engine.

No major injuries were reported among any of the 224 passengers or seven crew members aboard the plane at the time of the incident, according to Frontier Airlines.

The airport said that 12 people reported minor injuries and five of those were transported to area hospitals.

The airport said in a statement that the pedestrian was killed.

The person, who has not been identified, jumped the perimeter fence and was hit two minutes later while crossing the runway, the airport said.

The fence is intact, and the pedestrian is not believed to be an airport employee.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy referred to the person as a "trespasser" in a post on social media .

Frontier Airlines is investigating the incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board was also notified.

The runway where the crash occurred will stay closed during the investigation, according to Denver International Airport, and is expected to be reopened Saturday.