The Milan Cortina Games mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Paralympics. Athletes will compete across 79 events in six sports. It is the biggest Winter Paralympics ever, with a record female participation, according to the IPC.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
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Gold medalists Veronika Aigner, of Austria, left, and her guide Eric Digruber celebrate on the podium of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired, watched by bronze medalists Elina Stary, of Austria, and her guide Stefan Winter, right, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Anna Soens, of the United States, watches Mata Rodriguez, of Spain, reflected in her goggles, leave the start gate for her second run in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Zach Miller, of the United States, from left, Keith Gabel, of the United States, and Alex Massie, of Canada, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 semifinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Lee Jehyuk, of South Korea, and Sun Qi, of China, left, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her alpine skiing three gold and one bronze medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
United States' Kayden Beasley, left, celebrates with his teammate Malik Jones after scoring during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Davide Bendotti, of Italy, competes in his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Johannes Aigner, of Austria, waits his turn to start his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her three alpine skiing gold medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Players of the United States celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal at the ice hockey of the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
United States' Brett Bolton, center, challenges for the puck with Canada's Anton Jacobs-Webb during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Gold medalists Veronika Aigner, of Austria, left, and her guide Eric Digruber celebrate on the podium of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired, watched by bronze medalists Elina Stary, of Austria, and her guide Stefan Winter, right, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A coach cheers on Anja Wicker, of Germany, during the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Zhang Wenjing, of China, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Italian players get ready prior to the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Dave Miln, of Australia, ie welcomed back by his dog Suki after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, reacts after crossing the finish line in the to win the bronze medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Anna Soens, of the United States, watches Mata Rodriguez, of Spain, reflected in her goggles, leave the start gate for her second run in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Alejandra Requesens, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, crosses the finish line on her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
United States' Declan Farmer runs to the puck during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Dmitrii Fadeev, of Russia, competes in his first run of the snowboard men's banked slalom sb-ll1at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Kelsey O'Driscoll, of the United States, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Anna-Lena Forster, of Germany, reacts after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ammi Hondo, of Japan, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Andrea Rothfuss, of Germany, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Wang Chenyang, of China, crosses the finish line in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Brittany Hudak, of Canada, competes in the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Robelson Lula, of Brazil, stands after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Jeroen Kampschreur, of the Netherlands, reacts after crossing the finish line in the alpine skiing men's super-G sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Mengqiu Zhang, of China, reacts after failing to finish the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, crosses the finish line in the alpine skiing women's super-G sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A Swiss athlete, right, rides by while athletes from the United States check the track before the start of the day's alpine skiing competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, crosses the finish line in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Patrick Halgren, of the United States, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Chine's Li Hongguan challenges for the puck with Italy's Gianluigi Rosa during the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Claire Petit, of the Netherlands, competes in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Mike Schultz, of the United States, stretches during warmup before the start of the snowboard cross competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Cecile Hernandez, of France, reacts after winning the gold medal in the women's snowboard cross SB-LL2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Wu Zhongwei, of China, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL1 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Zach Miller, of the United States, from left, Keith Gabel, of the United States, and Alex Massie, of Canada, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 semifinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Patrick Halgren, of the United States, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
China's Zhanfu Zhu, top, and China's Yifeng Shen control the puck during the Group A hockey match between China and Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Joanna Butterfield and Jason Kean competes against Latvia during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Lee Jehyuk, of South Korea, and Sun Qi, of China, left, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Gakuta Koike, of Japan, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pascal Christen, of Switzerland, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
China's Shiyu Wang competes in the Para Biathlon Women's sprint sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Germany's Sven Stumpe, left, and China's Yifeng Shen challenge for the puck during the Group A hockey match between China and Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Jinqiao Yang, of China, competes during wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Italy at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Liu Sitong, of China, competes in the alpine skiing women's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her alpine skiing three gold and one bronze medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
United States' Kayden Beasley, left, celebrates with his teammate Malik Jones after scoring during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Davide Bendotti, of Italy, competes in his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Johannes Aigner, of Austria, waits his turn to start his first run of the alpine skiing men's slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Ebba Aarsjoe, of Sweden, poses for photos with her three alpine skiing gold medals, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Players of the United States celebrate on the podium after winning the gold medal at the ice hockey of the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
United States' Brett Bolton, center, challenges for the puck with Canada's Anton Jacobs-Webb during the ice hockey gold medal match between United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Gold medalists Veronika Aigner, of Austria, left, and her guide Eric Digruber celebrate on the podium of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired, watched by bronze medalists Elina Stary, of Austria, and her guide Stefan Winter, right, at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A coach cheers on Anja Wicker, of Germany, during the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Zhang Wenjing, of China, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Italian players get ready prior to the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during a women's World Cup giant slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
Dave Miln, of Australia, ie welcomed back by his dog Suki after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, reacts after crossing the finish line in the to win the bronze medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Anna Soens, of the United States, watches Mata Rodriguez, of Spain, reflected in her goggles, leave the start gate for her second run in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Alejandra Requesens, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom vision impaired at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, crosses the finish line on her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
United States' Declan Farmer runs to the puck during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Dmitrii Fadeev, of Russia, competes in his first run of the snowboard men's banked slalom sb-ll1at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Kate Delson, of the United States, competes in her second run of the snowboard women's banked slalom sb-ll2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Kelsey O'Driscoll, of the United States, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Anna-Lena Forster, of Germany, reacts after crossing the finish line to win the gold medal in the alpine skiing women's giant slalom sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Ammi Hondo, of Japan, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Andrea Rothfuss, of Germany, competes in her second run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Maria Martin-Granizo, of Spain, competes in her first run of the alpine skiing women's giant slalom standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Wang Chenyang, of China, crosses the finish line in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Brittany Hudak, of Canada, competes in the cross country skiing women's 10Km interval start classic standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Robelson Lula, of Brazil, stands after competing in the cross country skiing men's 10Km interval start sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Jeroen Kampschreur, of the Netherlands, reacts after crossing the finish line in the alpine skiing men's super-G sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Mengqiu Zhang, of China, reacts after failing to finish the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Audrey Pascual Seco, of Spain, crosses the finish line in the alpine skiing women's super-G sitting final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
A Swiss athlete, right, rides by while athletes from the United States check the track before the start of the day's alpine skiing competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Varvara Voronchikhina, of Russia, crosses the finish line in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Patrick Halgren, of the United States, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Chine's Li Hongguan challenges for the puck with Italy's Gianluigi Rosa during the Group A hockey match between Italy and China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Claire Petit, of the Netherlands, competes in the alpine skiing women's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's super-G standing final at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, March 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Mike Schultz, of the United States, stretches during warmup before the start of the snowboard cross competitions at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Cecile Hernandez, of France, reacts after winning the gold medal in the women's snowboard cross SB-LL2 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Wu Zhongwei, of China, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL1 at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Zach Miller, of the United States, from left, Keith Gabel, of the United States, and Alex Massie, of Canada, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 semifinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Patrick Halgren, of the United States, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
China's Zhanfu Zhu, top, and China's Yifeng Shen control the puck during the Group A hockey match between China and Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Joanna Butterfield and Jason Kean competes against Latvia during a wheelchair curling mixed doubles at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Lee Jehyuk, of South Korea, and Sun Qi, of China, left, compete in a men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka
Bernt Marius Roerstad, of Norway, competes in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Gakuta Koike, of Japan, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill standing competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Pascal Christen, of Switzerland, reacts after competing in the alpine skiing men's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
China's Shiyu Wang competes in the Para Biathlon Women's sprint sitting at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Tesero, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Germany's Sven Stumpe, left, and China's Yifeng Shen challenge for the puck during the Group A hockey match between China and Germany at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Jinqiao Yang, of China, competes during wheelchair curling mixed doubles round robin session against Italy at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
Liu Sitong, of China, competes in the alpine skiing women's downhill sitting competition at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.
The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.
A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.
“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”
The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”
The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”
Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.
“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”
Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.
Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.
The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.
“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”
FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)