Video shows moment plane runs over man during take-off at Denver airport

Denver, US,UPDATED: May 11, 2026 17:16 IST

Newly released surveillance footage has captured the chilling moments before a trespasser was fatally struck by a Frontier Airlines plane at Denver Airport in Colorado on Saturday night.

The video, released by the City and County of Denver, shows the unidentified individual calmly walking across the runway moments before being pulled into one of the engines of an Airbus A321neo during takeoff.

The person appeared to walk directly into the aircraft’s path, with little sign of urgency, before being struck and partially sucked into the engine.

New footage captures a Frontier Airlines plane hitting a trespasser while taking off from Denver Airport in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/d2ckCOqHXo— aircraftmaintenancengineer (@airmainengineer) May 11, 2026

HOW THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED

Airport authorities said the individual had breached security by jumping the airport’s perimeter fence and entering the tarmac shortly before the collision at around 11:19 pm local time. According to reports, the plane was travelling at nearly 139 mph during takeoff when the incident occurred.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the trespasser breached security and ran out onto the runway. “No one should EVER trespass on an airport,” Duffy wrote on X.

According to CBS News, air traffic control audio from moments after the crash captured the pilot informing the tower that the aircraft was stopping on the runway.

“We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire,” the pilot said.

The pilot later told controllers there had been “an individual walking across the runway” and reported smoke inside the aircraft before initiating an emergency evacuation.

'SAW LEGS SPINNING IN ENGINE'

Passenger John Anthens, who was travelling with his sons, said he witnessed the horrifying scene from inside the aircraft.

“I saw the legs of a human spinning around in the engine,” Anthens told The New York Post.

He said most passengers initially had no idea what had happened.

“There was just a big explosion. Obviously, when you hear a big explosion, people start screaming and kids start crying. It was horrific,” he added.

THE AFTERMATH

The engine caught fire shortly after the collision while passengers remained seated as instructed by flight attendants. Emergency crews later evacuated all 224 passengers and seven crew members safely from the aircraft.

Authorities have not yet publicly identified the victim, and investigations into the security breach and the fatal incident are ongoing.

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