A man who was struck and killed by a departing Frontier Airlines flight at Denver International Airport has died by suicide, the city's medical examiner has ruled. Michael Mott, 41, jumped an eight-foot fence topped with barbed wire to reach the runway on Friday evening.
According to airport chief executive Phillip Washington, around two minutes elapsed between Mott's breach and the collision. Mott was not an airport employee and had previous contact with law enforcement, said Denver police chief Ron Thomas. The medical examiner, Sterling McLaren, said Mott suffered multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.
The incident has raised questions about airport security. Washington noted that ground detection sensors triggered an alarm, but an investigator initially identified a herd of deer and did not see Mott. The camera view alternated between the wildlife and the man, preventing intervention in time. The airport's perimeter fencing spans 36 miles and was found intact after the incident.
Washington stated that the airport is not considering electrifying the fence or making it taller, as a motivated individual could still find a way through. However, he said improvements to perimeter security would be reviewed. The Transportation Security Administration sets fencing standards, which the airport has followed.
Frontier flight 4345, bound for Los Angeles, carried 224 passengers and seven crew members. Mott was pulled into the aircraft's engine, sparking a fire and evacuation. Smoke filled the cabin, and 12 people reported minor injuries; five were taken to hospital, four of whom have since been released.
Police are looking for individuals who knew Mott and assessing whether mental health issues played a role. It remains unclear how he reached the fence, as no vehicle or bicycle was found in the surrounding farmland area. Washington acknowledged the difficult experience for passengers.
