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By Emma Marsden
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Officials have identified the man killed after being struck by a Frontier Airlines plane on a runway at Denver International Airport (DEN) on Friday night.
The Denver Medical Examiner said Michael Mott, 41, died from multiple blunt and sharp force injuries. The manner of death was determined to be suicide.
The airport told Newsweek in a statement on Saturday that the "pedestrian jumped the perimeter fence and was hit just two minutes later while crossing the runway. The pedestrian is deceased, and is not believed to be an employee of the airport nor have they been identified. The airport has examined the fence line and found it to be intact."
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The crash happened at approximately 11:19 p.m. during Frontier Flight 4345's takeoff, the airport said. "Emergency crews responded to the scene, and passengers were bussed to the terminal and the majority have since departed DEN on a new Frontier flight."
Air traffic control audio showed the pilot of Flight 4345 radioed, “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway,” before adding, “We just hit somebody…we have an engine fire.” He later added, "There was an individual walking across the runway We've got smoke on the aircraft. We're going to evacuate on the runway."
In response to a Newsweek inquiry on Sunday, a spokesperson for Denver International said, “[The airport] will perform an incident analysis and after action in the coming days which will include reviewing the ongoing investigation, including our perimeter security program."
Frontier told Newsweek the Airbus A321 aircraft was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members when it "reportedly struck a pedestrian on the runway during takeoff" en route to Los Angeles International Airport.
The airport added that 12 people reported minor injuries, and five of these were transported to local hospitals. Runway 17L remains closed for investigation, and "we expect it will be open within the next couple hours," it said.
"We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved."
Frontier added that "we are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities," via a statement.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Saturday wrote on X that a "trespasser" had scaled a perimeter fence, adding local law enforcement, which handles security at the airport, is investigating the incident with support from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
"No one should EVER trespass on an airport," he wrote.
Smoke in the Cabin, Then an Evacuation
Smoke was reported in the cabin, and takeoff was aborted before passengers were evacuated via slides "as a matter of precaution," Frontier said.
The airport said a brief engine fire "was promptly extinguished" by the Denver Fire Department. "The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified."
Authorities have not yet released further details about the person reportedly struck.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told Newsweek on Saturday: "NTSB is coordinating with the FAA, airport operations and local law enforcement to collect information about the event, but we do not have any details to share at this time."
Denver International Airport has since informed Newsweek that the incident scene was cleared and Runway 17L was reopened as of 10:55 a.m. this morning.
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Recent Airport Incidents
Friday's incident is the latest in a series of airport safety issues and comes amid growing scrutiny of understaffing in air traffic control systems.
Last week, a United Airlines flight, while landing, hit a tractor-trailer that was driving along the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport. The plane also struck a light pole. The driver suffered minor injuries.
Earlier this month, the FAA opened an investigation after two commercial flights aborted landings at Reagan Washington National Airport due to a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter en route to the Pentagon, as reported by Newsweek.
After a deadly midair collision on January 29, 2025, between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter that killed 67 people, the FAA imposed permanent restrictions on non-essential helicopter operations near Ronald Reagan National Airport.
In March, two people were killed after an Air Canada plane collided with a Port Authority vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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