Man consumed by jet engine finally identified, and authorities determine why he was walking on runway

By Bob Unruh

Thermal imaging from Denver’s airport, when a man walked onto a runway in front of a jet taking off

Authorities in Denver have identified the man who breached Denver International Airport security, walked onto a runway in front of a Frontier Airlines jet and was struck and “partially consumed” as Michael Mott. 41.

There remains a long list of questions about what triggered the violence that happened Friday night.

Denver police spokesman Ron Thomas asked for anyone who knew Mott, or who may have been in contact with him, to reach out to the department as they continue to investigate the reasons behind the episode, as well as the factors that contributed to the man’s death.

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Authorities say the man breached a perimeter fence at the airport and within about two minutes was on the runway as the Frontier jet was taking off.

Pilots aborted their takeoff and brought the jet to a halt, leaving a handful of passengers with minor injuries.

According to a report from Denver Channel 7, “The incident has also raised security concerns. Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said Mott jumped an 8-foot fence topped with barbed wire and was struck by the jet just two minutes later.”

Denver, being among the nation’s busier airports, could face serious backlash should such security breaches be known to be easy.

Washington said the airport previously has gotten “perfect” scores on safety inspections.

“Motion detectors on the fence identified a herd of deer just outside the fence in the same area, which initially caused security crews to miss the man jumping the fence,” the report said.

Twelve people were injured during the incident and and five were hospitalized.

WorldNetDaily reported when the tragedy occurred the flight was carrying 231 people from Denver and was bound for Los Angeles.

The collision triggered a brief fire.

At the time, Sean Duffy, transportation secretary, confirmed the dead person was a “trespasser,” explaining, “Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int’l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway The trespasser on the runway was then struck by Frontier Airlines Flight 4345 during takeoff at high speed. The pilot stopped takeoff procedures immediately. The Frontier plane was then quickly evacuated while law enforcement and firefighters responded.”

The Daily Mail explained the trespasser “was at least partially consumed by one of the engines.”

The jet pilots had told Air Traffic Control: “Tower, Frontier 4345, we’re stopping on the runway. Uh, we just hit somebody… we have an engine fire. … There was an individual walking across the runway.”

Denver airport horror leaves trespasser ‘partially consumed’ by jet engine

Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.


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