Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is facing criticism after addressing the deadly Frontier Airlines incident at Denver International Airport.
In a post on X shared soon after the events unfolded, Duffy said a trespasser “breached airport security” by intentionally climbing a perimeter fence before running onto the runway.
“The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped takeoff procedures immediately,” he wrote.
He also said 12 people were injured, including five who were taken to a hospital.
“No one should EVER trespass on an airport.”
But readers quickly pointed out that Duffy’s remarks did not mention the death of the individual on the runway, who was hit by the aircraft and died at the scene.
As the statement circulated, many people questioned how someone was able to reach an active runway, calling the breach alarming and difficult to understand.
“How the hell did they not stop him?” asked one person. “The rent a cops at the security gates couldn’t run him down?”
Another commenter raised broader concerns about the ease of access, writing: “National security issue. Why was this so easy for someone to accomplish?”
A third focused on the contrast with passenger screening: “That is very concerning. We’re subjected to TSA before boarding yet breaching airport grounds is possible. Both can’t happen at the same time.
One person suggested it should be investigated as a potential terror-related act, writing: “The person jumped an exterior fence and aligned with the engine of a plane attempting to take off. That’s attempting to sabotage a takeoff of a plane with 200+ souls on board.”
Others urged caution, arguing that it was too early to draw conclusions.
“Just because someone is crazy doesn’t make what they do terrorism,” wrote another person. “Maybe wait for more facts?”
Another individual speculated the incident may have been an attempt to take their own life rather than a plan to harm passengers or crew.
Even with differing opinions about motive, the incident has intensified scrutiny of perimeter security and how quickly someone was able to access restricted areas—questions that may continue to follow Duffy and airport officials as more details emerge.
The incident occurred late Friday on a flight scheduled to depart Denver for Los Angeles, at about 11:19 p.m. local time, after reports said an aircraft had “struck a pedestrian during takeoff.”
The person who died has not been publicly identified, though they are believed to have been on airport property for less than two minutes before the collision.
“We’re stopping on the runway,” the pilot of the plane told the control tower at one point. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
Authorities said 231 people were on board at the time. The collision was described as involving a pedestrian who “was walking across the runway.”
Frontier Airlines said in a statement that ‘smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.’ The aircraft involved—an Airbus A321—“was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said.
All 231 people on board were evacuated using slides and moved to the nearest terminal.
An investigation is now underway to determine exactly how the breach happened and what led to the fatal incident.