A late-night Frontier Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles turned into a mass emergency evacuation after the aircraft struck and killed a man who had breached security and entered a runway at Denver International Airport. Authorities have since ruled the death a suicide.
According to The New York Post, Frontier Flight 4345 was preparing for takeoff around 11 p.m. on Friday, May 8, when the Airbus A321 accelerated down the runway and collided with a 41-year-old man later identified as Michael Mott.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot informing the tower moments later: “We just hit somebody,” before reporting an engine fire and bringing the plane to a stop. Smoke quickly filled parts of the cabin as passengers prepared to evacuate using inflatable emergency slides.
Authorities said all 224 passengers and seven crew members made it off the aircraft safely, though 12 passengers suffered minor injuries during the evacuation and five were transported to nearby hospitals.
Denver officials said the man had climbed over an eight-foot perimeter fence topped with barbed wire just minutes before the collision. Airport CEO Phil Washington said surveillance cameras initially focused on nearby wildlife after an alarm was triggered, making it difficult for crews to spot the trespasser immediately.
The runway where the incident happened sits roughly two miles from the main terminal, leaving little time for intervention once the man reached the airfield.
Investigators later revealed the plane was traveling approximately 139 mph at the time of impact. The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office determined Mott died from “multiple blunt and sharp force injuries” and ruled the manner of death a suicide.
No note has been recovered so far. Public records show Mott had more than 20 prior arrests dating back to his teens, including violent felony charges and previous prison sentences.
Passengers on board described hearing what sounded like an explosion before flames erupted near the engine. Authorities later confirmed human remains were found scattered on the runway following the impact.
The incident temporarily shut down the runway while local law enforcement, the FAA and TSA reviewed the security breach, and the National Transportation Safety Board gathered information about the emergency evacuation.
Denver International Airport, which spans more than 50 square miles and is the largest airport in the United States by land area, said officials are already reviewing additional safety measures following the tragedy.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, help is available. Call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential support 24 hours a day.
