Frontier Airlines forced an Airbus A321 to abort takeoff at Denver International Airport after the crew reported striking a person on runway 17L. The aircraft, operating Flight 4345 to Los Angeles, carried 224 passengers and seven crew members. Pilots radioed, “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire,” before bringing the jet to a halt at approximately 11:20 p.m., triggering an immediate emergency response.

Smoke filled the cabin, prompting an emergency slide evacuation that safely cleared all occupants onto the tarmac. Denver fire crews extinguished the engine fire and inspected the runway, which remained closed for a short period, within minutes, and cleared without further incident. The airline and airport disclosed no details about the individual struck, while the NTSB was notified to begin its inquiry.

The incident adds pressure on Frontier, whose Denver hub accounts for a sizable share of its domestic traffic, and could spur claims that affect its balance sheet. Investors may watch the carrier’s stock for any dip as regulators examine runway security protocols. No major flight disruptions were reported, and operations resumed on the remaining runways.