Pilot’s 4 words as person hit by plane and ‘sucked into engine’ | World | News
An apparent trespasser was fatally struck by Frontier Airlines plane at Colorado airport (Image: Mirror)
When it was reported that a person was caught in the engine of a passenger jet during the horror incident at Denver International Airport, the pilot’s chilling four-word warning was reflected in air traffic control voice recordings. “We just hit someone,” the pilot of a Frontier Airlines flight told the control tower after aborting takeoff Friday night.
The frightening moment occurred when Flight 4345 accelerated down the runway to Los Angeles International Airport and then crashed into a man who had allegedly jumped the fence around the airport a few minutes earlier. Seconds after the collision, the pilot urgently radioed controllers: “There is a fire in the engine.” The cabin of the Airbus A321 filled with smoke as frightened passengers prepared for an emergency evacuation. After firefighters tried to extinguish the fire, all 224 passengers on the plane escaped using inflatable slides. Frontier Airlines later said: “We are deeply saddened by this incident.”
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Authorities said that 12 passengers were slightly injured during the evacuation and five were taken to the hospital. Their situation remains unclear.
According to airport officials, the unnamed man climbed the perimeter fence just two minutes before the collision.
Air traffic control records show that the plane had just been cleared for takeoff before chaos broke out.
After a short pause, the pilot told the tower: “We are standing on the runway.”
He later added: “There was a person walking down the runway.”
“There are 231 people on board,” the pilot said, including seven crew members.
While 12 passengers were slightly injured in the incident, 5 of them were taken to surrounding hospitals. (Image: Mirror)
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the plane was traveling at a “high rate of speed” when it hit the person.
“Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver International Airport, deliberately climbed the perimeter fence and ran onto the runway,” Mr. Duffy said.
“No one should EVER enter an airport without permission,” he added.
Commercial aircraft typically reach takeoff speeds between 150mph and 180mph.
Denver International Airport said the person involved in the incident is not believed to be an airport employee.
The unnamed person had jumped over the surrounding fence two minutes before the collision. (Image: City and County of Denver)
“The airport inspected the fence line and found it to be intact,” airport officials said.
Passenger Jose Cervantes described terrifying scenes inside the plane after hearing a loud explosion.
“I see the right wing burning and like it’s exploding,” he told CBS.
“I thought I was going to burn to death,” he added. “You know, when I saw the fire and smoke, I thought I was going to get burned.”
While emergency teams rushed to the runway, the passengers were then taken back to the terminal by buses.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the incident.
Denver International Airport said: “We are extremely saddened by this incident and offer our condolences to those involved.”
