Colorado officials ID man killed by Frontier plane at Denver airport, give new details on incident
ABC7 Los Angeles • • business
Key Points:
- A 41-year-old man, Michael Mott, was struck and killed by a Frontier Airlines plane during takeoff at Denver International Airport; authorities determined his death to be a suicide after he scaled a fence and walked onto the runway.
- The collision caused an engine fire, prompting an evacuation where 12 passengers sustained minor injuries and five were hospitalized; the National Transportation Safety Board is gathering information about the incident.
- Airport perimeter breaches occur regularly nationwide, often involving intoxicated individuals or those seeking to explore, with Denver International Airport employing fences and intrusion detection systems, though these measures have limitations.
- The Transportation Security Administration oversees airport security standards, but fences meeting TSA requirements are not highly robust, making it relatively easy to breach airport perimeters.
- Frontier Airlines declined to comment on the accident and evacuation, while some passengers expressed concerns about delays and conditions during the evacuation process.