Michael Mott, 41, Killed After Breaching Perimeter Fence, Struck by Frontier Airlines Jet During Takeoff at Denver International Airport

Denver, CO - A man who deliberately breached Denver International Airport's (DIA) perimeter fence was fatally struck by a Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo on Friday night, May 9, 2026, causing the aircraft to abort its takeoff, triggering a brief engine fire, and leading to the emergency evacuation of all passengers and crew.

The incident occurred at approximately 11:19 p.m. local time on Runway 17L as Frontier Flight 4345, bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), was accelerating for takeoff. The aircraft was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members.

Authorities have identified the deceased as 41-year-old Michael Mott. He was a convicted felon with more than 20 arrests in Colorado dating back to 2002, including charges such as attempted murder, felony assault, menacing, burglary, assault on a peace officer, and multiple trespassing offenses. His most recent arrest was for felony trespassing about a month prior to the incident. Mott is believed to have been homeless and had a warrant out for his arrest related to failure to appear in court on trespassing and other charges.

According to DIA officials and investigators, Mott jumped the airport's 8-foot perimeter fence (topped with barbed wire) roughly two minutes before the collision in a remote area. He crossed onto the active runway and was struck by the accelerating aircraft. His death has been ruled a suicide by the Denver chief medical examiner, based on the circumstances, autopsy findings, and his history. He was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries after being struck and sucked into an engine.

Trespasser Killed After Breaching Perimeter Fence, Struck by Frontier Airlines Jet During Takeoff at Denver International Airport

Mott was not an airport employee. Investigators are examining how he breached the perimeter, including reports that an associated alarm may have initially been attributed to deer activity.Pilots immediately rejected the takeoff. Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting, "We're stopping on the runway. Uh, there we just hit somebody. We have an engine fire," followed by a report of smoke in the cabin. The crew requested to evacuate on the runway. Denver Fire Department crews quickly extinguished the engine fire.

All 231 people on board evacuated via emergency slides. Twelve individuals reported minor injuries, with five transported to local hospitals for treatment. Passengers described chaotic scenes, including a loud bang, flames visible outside the aircraft, and smoke filling the cabin. Many were later bused to the terminal.

Frontier Airlines stated, "The aircraft reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff. Smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff. We are deeply saddened by this event."DIA confirmed the runway was temporarily closed and later reopened. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident, including the security breach and perimeter response. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that the individual had "deliberately scaled a perimeter fence" and emphasized that trespassing on airport property is extremely dangerous.