Person killed after being struck by Frontier plane at Denver airport

Frontier Airlines said the flight was departing Denver for Los Angeles when the incident occurred.

(CNN)- Passengers are describing terrifying moments after a person was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane Friday at Denver International Airport.

According to airport officials, the individual jumped a perimeter fence and crossed a runway before being hit by the aircraft during takeoff.

Frontier Airlines said the flight was departing Denver for Los Angeles when the incident occurred.

Passengers onboard said they suddenly heard a loud impact as the plane accelerated down the runway.

“It was like boom and then you see the flames come, and then the smoke comes,” passenger Vanilla Ellis said.

“So people were yelling, ‘Fire, fire,’ and smoke was in the air,” passenger Chloe Kuns added.

Several passengers described hearing what sounded like a thud followed by an explosion-like noise.

“I felt like the plane started to tilt up when out of nowhere we felt a thud and heard like an explosion,” witness Jose Cervantes said.

Another passenger said the pilot immediately began emergency procedures after the impact.

According to Denver International Airport, a brief engine fire broke out after the collision but was quickly extinguished by Denver Fire Department crews.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene while passengers were evacuated and transported back to the terminal.

Airport officials said 12 people reported minor injuries, with five transported to hospitals for treatment.

The identity of the person killed has not yet been released.