An intruder exploited a significant security gap at one of the nation’s busiest airports, breaching the perimeter in under three minutes and entering the path of a plane on a Colorado runway. The 41-year-old man evaded motion detectors at Denver International Airport, which is twice the size of Manhattan.

He quickly scaled an 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire and walked onto the runway. There, he was fatally struck by a Frontier Airlines jet during takeoff. The plane carried 231 people, and the incident forced an evacuation after 12 people sustained minor injuries. Video from the scene showed the man being drawn into an engine that burst into flames.

Security Concerns Raised

Aviation and risk experts view this collision as a clear security lapse. They argue it could have been worse if not for the pilot’s quick actions. “People ought to be concerned. This was really an unprecedented risk,” said Eric Chafee, a risk expert.

“There ought to be new measures put into place to prevent this type of tragedy.”

Chafee emphasized the importance of preventing similar incidents to protect lives on board aircraft.

Debate on Protocol Changes

While some experts believe new regulations are unnecessary due to the rare nature of such events, others urge for better defenses. The Denver medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. The airport promises a protocol review but defends its security program, stating it received top scores in federal inspections.

An alarm was triggered before the man’s entry, but an airport worker mistook it for a herd of deer, missing the breach. The intruder scaled the fence in 15 seconds.

Regular Breach Issues

Security expert Jeff Price notes that perimeter breaches occur regularly, with potentially dozens each year. Denver’s airport is surrounded by 36 miles of fencing, checked by security. Most trespassers pose no real threat, with similar cases of runway fatalities, such as one in Austin in 2020.

Legal Action and Future Risks

Two law firms have announced plans to sue on behalf of Frontier passengers, citing failures in security systems. However, former FAA director Steven Wallace views the event as isolated, questioning the cost-effectiveness of thorough improvements.

Jim Hall, former NTSB chairman, warns of potential copycats and suggests Denver should increase surveillance and personnel around its fences to prevent future incidents. “They’ve had a failure and they don’t need to have another one.”