Michael Mott was the 41-year-old man who breached the perimeter at Denver International Airport, reached an active runway, and died by suicide after being struck by a departing Frontier Airlines aircraft. His life, based on the public record now emerging, appears to have been troubled for many years.
On Friday night, May 8, 2026, Mott breached the airport perimeter, climbed an eight-foot fence topped with barbed wire, and reached runway 17L. Roughly two minutes later, he was struck by a departing Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo bound for Los Angeles. The aircraft aborted takeoff after impact, an engine fire broke out, and the passengers and crew were evacuated.
The aircraft was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members. All survived, though 12 people reported minor injuries and five were transported to local hospitals.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
