A passenger on board a Frontier Airlines flight has praised the quick thinking of the pilots following a fatal incident involving a pedestrian at Denver International Airport (DEN). Chloe Kuns, a middle school teacher from Michigan, was travelling with her one-year-old daughter when the plane aborted its takeoff just seconds before leaving the ground, preventing a potentially catastrophic situation.
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The frightening event unfolded on the evening of Friday, May 8, as passengers prepared for their flight to Los Angeles. At the moment of impact, the aircraft was travelling at a speed of 120 knots—equivalent to nearly 140 miles per hour—when the pilots spotted a pedestrian who had jumped the perimeter fence and entered the runway. Frontier Airlines later confirmed that the aircraft struck the individual but highlighted that the flight crew managed to take swift action to abort the takeoff.
Reflecting on her experience aboard flight 4353, Kuns expressed her gratitude towards the crew, stating, “The pilot thought so fast, and it could have been so much worse.” She recognised how close they were to a more disastrous outcome, explaining that they were merely “15 knots away from the point you’re taking off no matter what.” The rapid response of the pilots, she believes, played a vital role in preventing greater tragedy.
Kuns acknowledged the high-pressure situation faced by flight attendants and noted their commendable handling of the chaos. “They were giving orders to stay seated, to stay calm. People were yelling at them, like, ‘Get us off this plane,’” she recounted. Despite the panic in the cabin, the flight attendants provided clear instructions, allowing Kuns to evacuate safely with her infant.
As Kuns made her way to the front of the aircraft, she remembered asking a flight attendant for guidance on how to exit with her child. The flight attendant reportedly instructed her to hold her baby on her lap and jump down the slide during the evacuation. “I was lucky that someone helped catch us at the end because those slides are so fast,” she added, reflecting on the tense moments during the emergency.
The situation was compounded by a brief engine fire that occurred following the aborted takeoff, but this was quickly extinguished by the Denver Fire Department. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, and passengers were subsequently bussed back to the terminal. According to airport officials, the pedestrian was struck just two minutes after accessing the runway.
In a statement from DEN, officials confirmed that the individual who lost their life was not an airport employee, and their identity has yet to be disclosed. It was also noted that a review of the fenceline indicated it remained intact, suggesting that the breach of security was an isolated incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since announced that it will be investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic event, aiming to uncover how the individual gained access to the secured area of the airport.
Despite the terrible outcome for the pedestrian, Kuns took a moment to reflect on her appreciation for the flight crew’s professionalism under intense pressure. “I’m sad that the flight staff had to use their training like this, but I’m so grateful that clearly the pilot was so locked in and so aware of what was going on,” she stated.
As the incident drew national attention, passengers onboard flight 4353 are left grappling with the harrowing experience of witnessing a collision that could have escalated into a far greater disaster. Kuns’ story serves as a reminder of the critical role pilots and flight crews play in ensuring passenger safety, especially in emergency scenarios.