DENVER — A Frontier Airlines aircraft struck a pedestrian on a runway at Denver International Airport on Saturday, authorities said, in an incident that temporarily halted operations at one of the busiest U.S. airports.
The collision occurred shortly before 11 a.m. local time as the Airbus A320 was taxiing for departure, Denver International Airport officials said. The pedestrian, whose identity has not been released, was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital.
Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident involving one of its aircraft and said it was cooperating fully with investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation, standard procedure for such runway incidents.
“Safety is our top priority,” a Frontier Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. “We are working closely with authorities and our thoughts are with the individual involved.”
Airport officials said the pedestrian was not authorized to be on the active runway. Initial reports indicated the person may have accessed the area through a restricted zone, though the exact circumstances remained under investigation. No other injuries were reported among passengers or crew on the aircraft.
Operations at the airport were briefly disrupted, with several flights delayed or diverted while emergency crews responded and authorities secured the scene. Normal activity resumed within a few hours, airport officials said.
Denver International Airport, a major hub for Frontier Airlines, handles more than 70 million passengers annually. Runway incursions, while relatively rare, have drawn increased scrutiny from regulators in recent years as air traffic volumes have grown.
The FAA classifies runway incursions by severity. Details on the classification of this incident were not immediately available. The agency has not released the flight number or destination of the affected aircraft.
Frontier Airlines said all passengers on the plane were safely deplaned and accommodated on alternative flights. The aircraft involved was removed from service for inspection.
As of Saturday afternoon, the injured pedestrian remained in hospital care, according to airport and local emergency officials. The joint FAA-NTSB investigation is ongoing, with preliminary findings expected in the coming weeks. No further details on the cause were released.
