Man hit by Frontier Airlines flight at Denver airport dies by suicide: officials

This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255).

The person who died in Friday night’s deadly runway strike in Denver died by suicide after multiple airport security violations, officials said Tuesday.

The hijacker has been identified as Michael Mott, 41, who was seen on video walking around the runway at Denver International Airport before he suddenly landed in front of a Frontier Airlines plane as it took off.

Airport officials said they did not know Mott had entered the restricted area after cutting through an 8-foot barbed-wire fence. He was eventually pulled into the plane’s engine, which then caught fire.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt and blunt force injuries.

TAIWAN AIR FORCE OFFICER KILLED AFTER ‘HITTING’ BY FIGHTER JET ENGINE.

According to airport officials, ground sensors triggered an alarm near the perimeter fence shortly after 11 p.m.

Authorities said airport workers monitoring live surveillance cameras initially did not see anyone trespassing. Instead, they saw what appeared to be a herd of deer near the fence. The ditches in the area may have slightly impaired their view of the person, officials added.

DRIVER PARKS AT GATE OF PLACE IN PLACE, STEALS BIBLES BEFORE POLICE TAKES IT OFF, APPARENTLY

Despite the initial results, airport officials were notified soon after that someone had been hit by a plane while crossing the runway.

“A few minutes later, we were notified by the FAA about a hit,” said Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington.

“It took about 15 seconds for this person to jump over the eight-foot barbed wire fence,” Washington added. “The time between going over the fence and being hit by the plane was about two minutes.”

Officials added that Mott traveled about 650 miles to the runway after cutting the wire.

A still image shows an unidentified person scaling a perimeter fence before entering the Frontier runway at Denver International Airport on May 8, 2026. (KDVR)

‘WARNING SIGNS WERE ALL THERE’ AHEAD OF DC MID-AIR FALL, FORMER FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE SAYS

After this incident, the investigators said that the phone in the place where it was broken into was found intact.

Officials said they do not yet know how Mott traveled to the remote area as investigators did not find a car, bicycle or other vehicles nearby.

The airport’s security system relies on 36 miles of TSA-compliant fencing, as well as closed-circuit cameras, thermal imaging, ground-based radar and security monitoring.

Officials stressed that security protocols and perimeter security are currently being reviewed for possible improvements to the airport’s security system, including efforts to address potential camera blind spots caused by trenches near the fence.

The flight departs from Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado on May 6, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

There were 231 people on Frontier Flight 4345, officials said.

12 passengers reported minor injuries, most of them injured while using the emergency slide to exit.

Five people were taken to local hospitals and four were released. The condition of the remaining patient is unknown.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted jointly by local law enforcement and federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.