The National Transportation Safety Board is joining other agencies investigating the May 8 trespassing incident thatkilled a person walkingon an active runway at Denver International Airport.
The agencies are looking at different aspects of the incident, where Frontier Flight 4345 hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway as the Airbus A321neo was about to take off.
The collision caused an engine fire that created smoke in the cabin, according toDenver International Airport. Twelve people reported minor injuries, with five transported to local hospitals, the airport said.
Investigation into the accident and its aftermath includes at least three agencies — the NTSB, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Denver Police Department.
Here is what we know about where the investigations stand.
What are the FAA and Denver Police investigating?
The bulk of the investigation is being handled by these two agencies, with theFAA directinginquiries to local law enforcement, DEN and Frontier Airlines for comment beyond initialremarks by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Among the matters likely to be investigated are how the trespasser got over the undamaged security fence, why they were there and how such an incident could be prevented in the future.
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What is the NTSB investigating?
The accident itself is “outside of the purview” of the NTSB, but the board is looking into the evacuation of the aircraft, NTSB spokesperson Sarah Taylor Sulick told the Coloradoan in a May 11 email. It has yet to decide if it will conduct a full investigation of the evacuation, she added.
Mediareportsshowed some passengers felt the evacuation was too slow and too chaotic. Others expressed concerns that some passengers evacuated the aircraft with carry-ons in violation of federal regulations.
Who was the person killed at Denver airport?
Authorities have yet to identify the person, describing them only as a trespasser who they did not believe worked at the airport.
The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to release the person’s identity later.
Denver International airport incidents
A handful of security and safety incidents have occurred on the ground at Denver International Airport in the past 14 months. There are no links noted between any of them. They include:
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A United Airlines Airbus A321 bound for Washington, D.C., was evacuated before takeoff on April 19 after a reported bomb threat. The plane was screened and nobody was hurt.
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A United Airlines Boeing 737-800 struck a de-icing truck on March 6, sending an airport employee to the hospital and forcing the evacuation of the passengers.
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An Air Canada Airbus A220 headed to Toronto returned to Denver on Aug. 31, 2025, deploying its emergency slides after returning. The emergency landing came after the crew suspected there was a possible electrical fire.
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An American Airlines Boeing 737-800 flying from Colorado Springs to Dallas made an emergency landing on March 14, 2025, and its engine caught fire after touching down inn Denver. All passengers were evacuated, with 12 people taken to area hospitals for minor injuries.
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan:Who was killed at Denver International airport? Latest on probes
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