A person was sucked into the engine of a Frontier Airlines jet after allegedly breaching security and wandering onto a runway at Denver International Airport, according to reports. Horrifying newly released surveillance footage reportedly shows the individual calmly walking across the tarmac moments before being struck by the Airbus A321neo as it accelerated for take-off late on Saturday night.
The victim, who has not yet been publicly identified, is understood to have jumped the airport’s perimeter fence before entering the runway area at around 11.19pm local time. According to KHOU 11, the person could be seen “walking from one end to the other with little urgency” as the aircraft barrelled towards them. The footage allegedly shows the individual directly in line with one of the plane’s engines before part of their upper body was sucked inside in a shocking incident that sparked panic onboard. The collision reportedly occurred about 2 minutes after the person breached the fence.
Flight tracking data cited by FlightAware suggested the plane was travelling at around 139mph when the impact occurred.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the “trespasser breached security” and “ran out onto the runway”.
Writing on X, he added: “No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
Passenger John Anthens said he was sitting on the plane with his sons when he witnessed the horrifying moment from his window seat.
He told the New York Post: “The majority of people didn’t know what was going on or what happened, but there was just a big explosion and, obviously, when you hear a big explosion, people start screaming, kids are crying and it was horrific.”
Anthens said the nose of the aircraft jerked upwards on impact as a “bomb”-like explosion shook the cabin.
Moments later, one of the engines burst into flames while passengers were initially instructed by cabin crew to remain seated.
All 224 passengers and seven crew members were safely evacuated from the aircraft using emergency slides.
Anthens’ son reportedly took a photograph of the damaged engine after evacuating the plane.
The family later cancelled their trip and decided to drive home to Nebraska following the traumatic ordeal.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating the incident.
