Man struck on Denver airport runway died by suicide, officials say
NBC News • • business
Key Points:
- Michael Mott, 41, was identified as the person fatally struck on a Denver airport runway Friday in an incident believed to be a suicide, with the cause of death ruled as multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.
- The collision occurred as a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321 was accelerating for takeoff at Denver International Airport, with security footage showing Mott crossing the runway shortly before impact.
- Airport officials noted challenges in detecting Mott due to alternating camera views and terrain features like ditches and a ravine, and stated that the short time between fence breach and collision prevented intervention.
- Denver International Airport emphasized its extensive security measures, including 36 miles of fencing, and plans to review the incident to improve safety, while noting that more lethal fencing is not considered a solution.
- Twelve passengers were injured during the evacuation following the collision; the National Transportation Safety Board will not investigate the event, leaving the case to local law enforcement, which continues to seek information from the public.