Man hit by L.A.-bound plane on Denver runway is ID'd. Questions on his motivation swirl
Key takeaways
- Michael Mott, 41, died from multiple blunt force injuries in the collision on the Denver Airport runway Friday night, according to Denver Chief Medical Examiner Sterling McLaren.
- Mott had been arrested 20 times in the state of Colorado on suspicion of violent felonies including attempted murder, domestic violence and assault, according to court records obtained by the California Post.
- Thomas asked anyone who was in contact with Mott prior to the incident to contact the department.
A Frontier Airlines jet arrives at Denver International Airport in 2024. The fatal incident at the airport last week led to a fire and passengers being evacuated from the aircraft. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press) By Clara Harter Staff Writer Follow May 12, 2026 5:30 PM PT 1 3 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
Officials have identified the man who walked in front of an L.A.-bound Frontier plane during takeoff and was fatally struck by its engine, which burst into flames upon impact, forcing an emergency evacuation and injuring a dozen passengers.
Michael Mott, 41, died from multiple blunt force injuries in the collision on the Denver Airport runway Friday night, according to Denver Chief Medical Examiner Sterling McLaren. His manner of death was ruled a suicide, but officials have not recovered a note, she said.