Horror as Frontier Airlines flight with 231 people onboard kills a pedestrian on runway during takeoff sparking slide evacuation

There was horror onboard a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles when it struck and killed a person walking on the runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night.

Smoke filled the cabin as the incident sparked an engine fire and those onboard evacuated the aircraft via the emergency slides.

The pedestrian was at least partially consumed by one of the engines, an official confirmed to ABC News.

A statement to the Daily Mail from Frontier said: ‘As flight 4345 was departing this evening from Denver International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport, the aircraft reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff. 

‘Smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff. Passengers were then safely evacuated via slides as a matter of precaution. 

‘The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities. We are deeply saddened by this event.’

There was at least one minor injury to a person on board the aircraft, which collided with the unknown individual on the runway at about 11:30pm local time.

Air traffic control audio from ATC.com picked up the crew speaking about the incident.

‘Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire,’ the pilot was heard saying.

When asked how many people were on board, the pilot said. ‘We have 231 souls on board… There was an individual walking across the runway.’

The pilot then said there was smoke on the aircraft and that they’d need to evacuate the passengers and crew.

The Denver Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire.

Frontier and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. The National Transportation Safety Board is also aware of the incident.