Passengers share terrifying account after plane engine exploded following collision with person

Passengers onboard a Frontier Airlines flight to Los Angeles thought they were "going to die" after their plane struck a person on the runway during takeoff at Denver International Airport.

The horrifying incident unfolded late Friday (May 8) night when Frontier Flight 4345, carrying 231 people, reportedly hit a pedestrian who had breached the airport perimeter and entered the runway moments before takeoff.

Airport officials confirmed the individual was killed instantly. "Frontier Flight 4345 reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 pm on Friday," Denver International Airport said in a statement shared on X.

"Emergency crews responded to the scene. Passengers were bussed to the terminal and the majority have since departed DEN on a new Frontier flight," the airport added.

A person was hit on the runway. Credit: IMAGO / Rüdiger Wölk

According to authorities, the individual had jumped the airport fence just minutes before the collision.

"DEN can confirm the pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway. The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport, nor have they been identified," the statement added.

'We’re all going to die'

Among the passengers onboard were Nebraskan father John Anthens, 56, and his sons Jacob, 30, and Levi, 19, who were heading to California for a Pokémon Go tournament.

The family said they immediately feared the worst after hearing a massive explosion erupt through the aircraft.

"When the engine blew up, I thought, 'Oh sh**, we’re all going to die,'" John recalled to The New York Post.

He described feeling the nose of the plane suddenly pitch upward before what sounded like a "bomb" exploded inside the cabin.

Jacob later revealed his father witnessed the dreadful moment the person was pulled into the aircraft engine.

"My dad said when the engine fire went up, he was able to see the legs of a human spinning around in the engine…which sounds like emotional trauma to me," he explained.

Passengers reportedly remained seated as smoke filled parts of the cabin while flight attendants instructed everyone to stay calm.

"I would say the majority of people didn’t know what was going on or what happened, but there was just a big explosion," John said. "And obviously, you hear a big explosion, people start screaming, kids are crying, and it was horrific."

Chilling audio captures the moment the runway was shut down

Newly released air traffic control audio reportedly captured airport staff warning pilots about someone walking on the runway just moments before the crash.

According to audio first obtained by TMZ, an employee can be heard saying: "Sorry for the delay, it's Reggie from command, and runway 17935 is closed. I do have, urm, limbs on the runway. I believe the aircraft struck an individual."

Another voice later added: "We do have damage to the number two engine. Looks like we have fuel on the ground but no smoke or fire."

Airport officials confirmed emergency crews responded immediately, and passengers were evacuated from the plane before being transported back to the terminal by bus.

Officials confirmed that 12 people suffered minor injuries during the incident, with five transported to local hospitals.

By Saturday, authorities announced the runway had reopened after crews cleared the scene.

Featured image credit: IMAGO / Rüdiger Wölk