Ntsb Investigates Evacuation Of L.a.-bound Plane That Hit Pedestrian At Denver Airport

The National Transportation Safety Board said Sunday it is gathering accusation astir nan removal of a Frontier Airlines level bound for Los Angeles aft it deed and killed a personification connected nan runway astatine Denver International Airport during takeoff.

The jetliner carrying 224 passengers and 7 unit members en way to LAX reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff precocious Friday night.

Passengers connected nan plane, which Frontier identified arsenic Flight 4345, were evacuated via slides, and nan emergency unit bused them to nan terminal. An airdrome spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered insignificant injuries and 5 were taken to hospitals. The spokesperson did not supply specifications connected really nan passengers were injured. But immoderate group connected committee expressed interest astir nan evacuation, including being stuck successful nan level for respective minutes arsenic fume filled nan compartment and being near connected nan tarmac successful nan acold erstwhile they were out.

“We are gathering accusation astir nan emergency removal to find if it meets criteria for a information investigation,” NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick said Sunday, adding that nan agency mightiness person much specifications later successful nan day.

Frontier Airlines didn’t respond early Sunday to a petition for accusation astir nan evacuation.

The pedestrian, who authorities person still not identified, was deed 2 minutes aft jumping nan airdrome obstruction and crossing nan runway. The personification is not believed to beryllium an airdrome employee.

Frontier Airlines said successful a connection that “smoke was reported successful nan compartment and nan pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether nan fume was linked to nan collision.

Casey writes for nan Associated Press.