Friday night a Frontier Airlines flight hit somebody crossing the runway as it was on its way to take off from Denver. You can listen to air traffic control and operations communications as the pilot relayed what happened and emergency responders dispatched.
It appears that the person had breached a perimeter fence near the site of the accident. This is surveillance video of the Frontier jet hitting that individual. I will not embed it for obvious reasons. In the dark and at speed the pilot wouldn’t have seen this person off in the distance.
The plane’s engine caught fire. Fire trucks responded to the scene. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft. You can see them exiting down the slide. Many bring their carry-on bags with them.
🚨#BREAKING: Watch as a Frontier Airlines aircraft forced to make an emergency after a pedestrian on the runway was struck and sucked into one of the jet’s engines⁰⁰ 📌#Denver | #Colorado
Watch as horrifying footage from earlier this morning shows the moment Frontier Flight… pic.twitter.com/jvaWjzvMey
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 9, 2026
There’s now video from inside the cabin as passengers grabbed their bags to leave the plane – and the conversation around taking bags is insane.
Okay. Leave the bags. Leave the bags. Leave the bags.
I’m taking mine out of here. I’m taking mine out of here. I’m taking mine.
Please leave all belongings. Please leave all belongings. Your belongings are safe. Your lives are more important. Please.
Both are important. I can’t afford neither. Okay. Can we jump? I’m assuming. Come this way. Okay.
I don’t know where your mom is. Mommy! Come here. Hey! Are you okay? Are you okay? Where’s your parents? I got something. Yes.
We don’t want people taking their belongings with them because that takes time. Every second counts and in an emergency there’s some chance that those seconds could be life or death for some passengers.
Some people suggest self-locking overhead bins. That probably makes things worse, as passengers stop and fight the bins, trying to open them, not understanding why they won’t open. Announcing that the bings are locked isn’t going to change much. Passengers will still test them. They’ll still fight to see how well the locks work. That takes more time than just grabbing bags.
And there’s a difference between bags in overhead bins and bags under the seat in front of you that you grab before getting up to evacuate. Both take time. Both take space. Bags from the bins are worse.
There are two basic reasons people take their belongings with them during an evacuation.
- People aren’t thinking, they’re reacting. Adrenaline takes over. There’s a natural instinct to hoard your belongings and you’re just not going to consider the consequences. They aren’t going to worry about what someone might do to them later if they make it out alive.
- People think rationally and know they’re going to have their stuff if they take it with them, but if they leave it behind they may not.
Here’s a frustrated passenger on that flight – they ‘did the right thing’ but they’re being ‘punished for it’. They’re without their stuff, while everyone who behaved selfishly has theirs.
I was there and I didn't take anything but Frontier has yet to find my bags that were in the cabin. I had important stuff in there. So even if I had to do it again I wouldn't take my bags but I would appreciate not being punished for doing the right thing. pic.twitter.com/lCLiyFUVfT
— Self Generated (@SelfGenPodcast) May 10, 2026
I’m not going to moralize this – “straight to jail” “death penalty” and similar comments online are common. I want aircraft emergency evacuations to be as smooth and swift as possible, to save lives. And I think we need to meet people where they are. All the passengers taking video, from inside the cabin and during the evacuation itself – long before being far away from the aircraft – seems at least as dangerous!
Evacuation studies should probably include an assumption about passenger carry-ons. The question isn’t “how do we stop people from taking their carry-on bags” (although that may be one strategy), it’s “how do we get people out in time so that emergencies are survivable?” And those questions should be answered based on how passengers actually behave, which includes bags and includes cell phone video.
Again, the most likely solution to “how do we stop people from taking their carry-on bags” is by disallowing their carry-on bags in the cabin.
Because we can’t have nice things anymore.
Yet another reason to put an AirTag in your carry-ons, as well as in your checked suitcases! Also another reason to not put valuables in your carry-on.
When you leave them on the plane in an evacuation, at least then you can track their location until they are delivered to you.
When a slide evacuation is ordered follow the flight attendant instructions like your life depends on it. Because it does. Every time I see this stupidity we all fall closer to living a horror story.
Having seen numerous videos like this, why are the flight attendants not being assertive during the evacuation? Compare how forceful and assertive other airlines train their flight attendants to very loudly yell, “Come This Way. Leave everything”. This doesn’t give me the warm and fuzzy about Frontier training.
Passengers took carry ons? Unlike a video shot in Russia, I don’t see anyone carrying their full size carry ons. I see however someone carrying their personal items, they all seem to be able to fit under the seat. If the aisle was congested as shown in the video, I’d grab my personal item sized backpack as well with cash and drug inside, as long as I’m not blocking anybody, and I strap it in front of me, not on my back like a pax near the door, so my bag and the slide will be less likely to be damaged.
I think its time we mandate some severe penalties for people that drag a carry-on off the plane, including lots of public shaming and doxxing.
“My bag is more important than your life”
I wonder if some of these people taking their carry-on…or more probably their small personal item actually have something inside the personal item that may save their life… or prevent saving it if left behind indefinitely. Like medications for serious health issues.
There could be shades of grey in play here.
@Denver Refugee — Your time to shine! Single-issue voter… bah!
@ Gary . there’s nothing, no medical intervention anyone could not receive on the ground with ems. This is a pathetic excuse to put. ” me first “.
@1990 – Less a “single-issue” voter (as I usually carry-on as well) than a warning: People are terrible. Airlines want that checked-bag money.
When people insist Something Must Be Done, that Something usually isn’t the one you want.
In due time, the airline industry will design a locking mechanism to the overhead bins in an evacuation, as this is a safety issue for all.
@Denver Refugee — “Won’t somebody please think of the children!”
Start charging for carry-on bags, but allow the first checked bag to be free. Same revenue but the stupidity ends.
@Ron — Might as well fly private at this rate… or stay home. No, wait, Amtrak!
I think upper-class people should be able to take their carry-ons with them during an evacuation.
I understand the rule and someday it may be the difference in life and death. But can someone point me to an instance where people taking their stuff resulted in a death.
I am taking my bags. Need my phone and personal belongings. I’ll take what I can carry safely. Sorry, get over it. As the passenger shared, who didn’t take his bag, he still doesn’t have his belongings. What if you had medicine or keys in there, I don’t usually keep my passport in my pocket. This virtue signaling bothers me. It’s like when a flight arise late and they ask everyone who doesn’t have a connection to stay seated, people still get up and it’s still would slow those in the back from getting out. I get the intent, but there’s going to be slow people on the way regardless. If I can get something without slowing others down, I’m going to get it.
I think the simple solution is a public government regulation/pre-commitment that all bags carried off the plane will be destroyed, plus training FAs to say it during an evacuation.
If you don’t your bag and you may see it again, if you do take your bag you’ll definitely never see it again.
@Gary – You’re assuming without evidence that once people absolutely know that they cannot get into the overhead they will still waste time trying to do so. I suspect this is like your “rules of the middle seat” where you are projecting your views as facts rather than wishes or conjecture. These miserable vermin who value their own things over someone else’s life have abrogated their right to live in a civilized society and literally no punishment short of death is too much. What they’re doing is tantamount to attempted murder. At an absolute minimum they should never be permitted to fly commercially on any flight again.
Setting “straight to jail” comments aside, the videos being what they are and facial recognition databases being what they are, would it be feasible for the airline to either get the government to pursue fines or just take punitive action of some sort (throw them out of their FFP or temporarily ban them)?
(I’d make an exception for grabbing e.g. insulin or asthma stuff, but that sort of thing is about it.)
@Maryland:
Actually, depending on the timelines, I think an Epi-Pen or asthma inhaler *might* qualify as “absolutely necessary”. The whole issue of “three minutes without air” /can/ outrun EMS, especially in an “actual” mass-casualty incident.
It’s a narrow exception but I think it has to be made (and I will point out that there is a qualitative difference between “your life or my life” (there are absolutely philosophical fights to be had thereĺ and “your life or my stuff” (not so much for anything foreseeably in luggage – you’d literally have to be talking about a diplomatic bag or something approaching a macguffin for me to even consider it).)
Americans. Dumb and Dumber
“This is an emergency evacuation. Leave your bags behind. Anyone taking a bag will be banned from future flights. For bus reservations to your final destination, please ask at the visitor information desk in the terminal.”
or:
“This is an emergency evacuation of human beings only. Those evacuating luggage will be the last to deplane.”
There is a substantial distinction between retrieving a small personal item, such as a purse, backpack, or compact suitcase from beneath the seat, and opening overhead bins during an evacuation. I completely agree that locking mechanisms for overhead compartments are a sensible measure to prevent the latter. However, I see no issue whatsoever with passengers quickly taking an item already at their feet. The increasingly common assertion that all belongings must categorically be abandoned in every evacuation scenario, regardless of circumstance, is simply not borne out by the available evidence. And while some point to Aeroflot 1492, that incident specifically involved passengers accessing overhead bins, which is plainly unacceptable and fundamentally different from someone grabbing a small item stored directly under the seat in front of them.
Jail and all that are the easy way out. Put these people on a stage in front of all the other passengers and have them explain why their STUFF was more important than the lives of everyone on the plane. Shame gets felt deep. Of course there are people with no conscience or shame.
Gray. Once on the ground ems has exactly what you need. Trust .in most cases even better coverage for whatever situation because you are going to be monitored and have ambulance service to further med care in a hospital. They drill to triage these scenarios all the time. Get out . That should be your focus.
Unfortunately given the extent of entitlement society has reached so far, I fear that nothing will deter Americans from doing whatever they like; while sanctimoniously declaring their “constitutional” right so to do!
@Maryland:
The issue is (1) the time before EMS shows up and (2) the potential time after EMS leaves but before you can retrieve stuff (unpredictable) and/or if the plane actually burns up (so, getting a script in a city far from home).
@InLA:
With this:
“This is an emergency evacuation of human beings only. Those evacuating luggage will be the last to deplane.”
You are assuming that folks wouldn’t take that offer up. I wouldn’t be shocked to see multiple passengers take up the offer. (People are irrational…and/or have skewed priorities.)
@Mike Hunt:
Biggest issue I see is the mechanism malfunctioning (e.g. firing at other times). Also, if you tie the mechanism to firing the slide/opening the exit door in an emergency, I can see folks trying to “beat the buzzer”. If that many people are going for their bags as it stands, tell me you can’t see them going for the bin in the middle of a crash.
The number of meltdown videos in which someone is being arrested and their only concern is the phone tells me people aren’t going to change. If the a/c is burning and you’re in my way trying to get your bag I will roll right over you.
You all are missing the easiest solution. Airlines or the FAA mandates that once the fire department deems plane no longer a risk the Airlines and/or airport have to return overhead bags and luggage to passengers in one hour. The problem is in these situations no one thinks about the bags at all until many hours later. There needs to be policy.
Emergency Services does **not** have the cancer specific (I have two different cancers) drugs I need. Neither does every hospital or pharmacy (2 of my 9 meds are compounded). While I’m leaving my overhead I am 1000% grabbing my under seat bag with my $4k a month meds on the way out.
Airlines are to blame, as usual.
People are grabbing their bags because, correctly, no one has faith that if they let those bags out of their sight that they’ll ever see them again. Passengers keep everything from medications to personal valuables to restricted work materials in carry-ons, and experience is the greatest teacher.
This falls under disobeying crew instructions. One thing is “adrenaline rush” and another one is still doing it after they tell you not to. This falls under FAA or at a minimum a specific airline ban.
There’s another reason passengers refuse to leave carry-on bags behind. The contents are valuable, or important documents, or have sentimental value like a family heirloom.
Passengers are reluctant to leave such items behind. It’s not like the airline is going to reimbursement them for their loss.
A possible solution is for the staff to lock the overhead bins in a bonafide emergency. People can take their small under the seat bag if it doesn’t cause any delay.
I don’t care if they’re carrying a carry-on bag or purse. It takes seconds to grab something from under your seat. Those seconds could mean someone’s life. But who cares about that as long as you have your useless junk, right? Keep the important things on you, phone, wallet, even a days worth of medication. Everything else stays. And it’s time to either add locks to bins or start issuing severe fines and harsh criminal charges with hefty jail time for anyone who puts other’s lives in danger.
How about adding: Anyone leaving with a bag will be handed over to law enforcement officers for violating Federal Law.
Folks here have no idea what they’d actually do in an emergency like this. A bit more compassion, understanding and grace would be far better than the rush to judgment or punishment of others. I still think the crew did a good job under really difficult circumstances. It’s a sad incident.
@David Que — (And, every time you go 1 mph over the speed limit… straight to jail! /s) The focus here should be a safe, orderly evacuation; not perfect enforcement of every rule in the FAA handbook.
@Michael — If Frontier wants to ban the passengers it just evacuated, that’s quite a ‘move’ by them. Like, doesn’t seem like the best ‘PR’ to automatically be banning those impacted by an aviation accident.
@George Romey — You must know that such vigilantism (punching others), while cathartic in a hypothetical, is not acceptable nor practical; no one is intending to harm you; at best, those other folks are reckless; you can’t claim false imprisonment; if you punch them, that’s assault/battery; besides, you’d waste your own time exacting that unnecessary punishment on them. Is it worth dying to punch these people you deem to be rule-breakers? Focus on getting out of the burning aircraft. Let karma sort out the rest.
@Maryland
No…it is not a “pathetic excuse”
Actually it wasn’t an excuse at all. It was an explanation why some may have reached for their personal item.
And no, Maryland, frankly you have no idea if EMS had the needed material and time to save someone’s life. Unless you were/are an EMT you are just pontificating angrily like the average empty headed blowhard that is incapable of any type of critical thinking.
@Gary — I think @Maryland meant well, and, rather, it is YOU who are projecting. That said, yeah, EMS doesn’t have everything for everyone, so maybe if it’s really important, like a passport (or essential medications), keep it nearby, in case there ever is an evacuation. And keep ya freakin’ shoes on (at least until 10,000 feet!)
@1990
I’ve seen far more critical (and acerbic) comments from you towards others, there were far less justified.
Oh, I think you must be Maryland’s friend or personal defender.
Keep swinging for the fences, my friend , in defense of the voiceless (oh, nevermind that Maryland was hardly voiceless)
@1990
And, I would suggest your use of the caps strongly indicates that you were the one projecting.
@1900
“And keep ya freaking shoes in . At least until 10000 feet”
You don’t know me. Only a creep would say that to someone they don’t know. Or someone in desperate need of attention.
Transference from your own bad habits when airborne?
Make OHB’s locked by an FA control input. Problem solved. Worst that can happen is the smaller bag underneath being taken.
Obviously a much more complex solution, but honestly, the only one. common sense won’t prevail.
@Gary — Why are you holding back?Tell us how you really feel.