Denver's medical examiner determined that a man who jumped an 8-foot barbed-wire fence at Denver International Airport and was struck by a departing Frontier Airlines aircraft died by suicide. Michael Mott, 41, breached the runway perimeter on Friday evening and was hit by the plane roughly two minutes later.
The fatal collision has put a spotlight on airport security procedures. Airport Chief Executive Phillip Washington said the fence, which spans 36 miles around the perimeter, was found intact after the incident and remains a standard design that complies with Transportation Security Administration guidance.
A ground detection sensor triggered an alarm near where Mott scaled the fence, but the security camera was alternating between a herd of deer and the individual, according to Washington. "Given the short time period, we were not able to intervene and prevent this person from reaching the runway," he said.
The airport is not planning to electrify the fence or increase its height. Washington acknowledged that "a motivated individual could find a way to penetrate it" and said the airport would examine possible improvements to its layered security system, which relies on patrols and technology. Previous fence jumpers have occurred at the facility, though exact numbers were not specified.
Mott was not an airport employee. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said Mott had previous contact with metropolitan law enforcement, though details of those interactions remain unclear. Law enforcement is now attempting to locate people who knew Mott and is investigating whether mental health issues played a role in his actions.
How Mott reached the fence is still unknown. Police did not locate a vehicle or bicycle in the farmland area near the airport's eastern perimeter.
Frontier Flight 4345, which was heading to Los Angeles International Airport with 224 passengers and seven crew members aboard, was struck during takeoff. Mott was pulled into the aircraft's engine, igniting a fire and forcing an evacuation. Smoke filled the cabin, making it difficult for some passengers to breathe.
Twelve people on board reported minor injuries, and five were transported to local hospitals. Four of those hospitalized have since been released. Washington addressed the passengers directly: "I want to acknowledge what a difficult and scary experience you had."
Medical Examiner Sterling McLaren said Mott's manner of death was determined through investigation and scene findings. He suffered "multiple blunt and sharp force injuries."
Author James Rodriguez: "The question of how someone breaches a 36-mile perimeter fence in minutes remains troubling, especially when technology and patrols are supposed to catch exactly this kind of breach."
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