Michael Mott Identified as Man Killed in Denver Airport Runway Suicide | VIDEO

*A man who was fatally struck on a runway at Denver International Airport on Friday night died by suicide, officials announced on May 12 (2026). The victim has been identified as Michael Mott, 41. The victim’s demise was determined to be a suicide from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries, according to Sterling McLaren, chief medical examiner for the city and county of Denver.

The collision occurred at 11:19 p.m. local time as a Frontier Airlines aircraft was accelerating to take off for a scheduled flight to Los Angeles International Airport. Black-and-white security video released by airport officials shows a figure approaching the runway and starting to cross it at a walking pace. An Airbus A321 then sweeps in from the left as the person vanishes, and one of the plane’s engines catches fire.

How the Incident Unfolded

Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington provided a detailed timeline during a news briefing. He said an alarm went off at around 11:10 p.m. Friday. An operator on duty “reviewed the alarm and identified a herd of deer just outside of the perimeter fence.”

“They did not initially see the trespasser,” Washington said. “The camera view was alternating between the wildlife and the individual. There are some ditches in the area, so the person was out of view for a bit as well.” Washington also noted that a “gulch,” or ravine, exists between the fence line and the runway, which the airport is working to address for better line of sight.

Minutes later, the airport was alerted by the Federal Aviation Administration that a person had been struck.

“It took approximately 15 seconds for this person to jump over the 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire,” Washington said. “The time between climbing over the fence and being struck by the plane, again, was approximately two minutes. The location of the incident is about two miles away from the terminal — given the short time period, we were not able to intervene and prevent this person from reaching the runway.”

Victim Identified and Investigation Status

While the incident has been determined to be a suicide, officials said a note has not been found at the scene. None of Mott’s belongings, including a vehicle, have been located by law enforcement yet. According to Washington, Mott “has had some law enforcement contact” in the Denver metropolitan area. His criminal record includes charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, and escaping from custody or a detention facility, according to online records.

Twelve people aboard the plane were injured during the evacuation following the incident, officials said. Washington lauded the actions of the pilot and crew for their professionalism, adding that the incident “could have been far worse.”

Airport Security Questions Answered

Washington addressed questions about security measures at the airport, which has 36 miles of fence across 53 square miles of property.

“Since this incident, we have been asked, ‘Why don’t you electrify the fence?’ or ‘Why isn’t the fence taller?’ or ‘Why don’t you use razor wire instead of barbed wire?’” he said. “Safety and security, again, is always our top priority. We don’t want our fence to be deadly, and even if the fence was taller, we believe a motivated individual could find a way to penetrate. That is why we have many layers of security.”

The airport will conduct a review to better understand the incident and how it happened. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will not investigate, citing that the incident is outside the board’s purview and will be left to local law enforcement. However, the NTSB added: “We are collecting information about the subsequent emergency evacuation to determine if it meets the criteria for an NTSB investigation.”

The Denver Police Department is continuing to investigate and is asking anyone who knew Michael Mott to contact them.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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