Authorities have confirmed the identity of the man who tragically lost his life after being struck by a Frontier Airlines plane at Denver International Airport last week. Michael Mott, aged 41, reportedly intended to take his own life, as stated by officials on Tuesday. Security footage indicates that Mott entered the runway shortly before the incident occurred on Friday night. The Denver City and County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that he succumbed to "multiple blunt and sharp force injuries." Chief Medical Examiner Sterling McLaren announced during a press briefing that the death has been classified as a suicide.

According to reports, Mott had a lengthy criminal history in Colorado, with over 20 arrests since 2002, including charges of attempted murder. One of his mug shots displayed a bandage on his forehead and a cut on his neck. His latest arrest was for felony trespassing just a month prior to the fatal incident, where he jumped the fence at the airport in a suicide attempt.

Security footage captured the moment Mott was drawn into one of the engines of an Airbus A321neo as it began its takeoff at approximately 23:19 local time. Officials noted that he had scaled the airport's perimeter fence and reached the tarmac mere minutes before the collision.

Phil Washington, the CEO of Denver International Airport, revealed that an alarm was triggered around 23:10, initially thought to be due to wildlife near the fence. "The trespasser was not immediately visible," Washington explained. "The camera was switching between the wildlife and the individual, and there were ditches that obstructed the view for a while." The airport later received notification from the Federal Aviation Administration that an aircraft had struck a person.

Washington detailed that it took about 15 seconds for Mott to leap over the 8-foot barbed wire fence, and the time from his fence jump to the plane strike was roughly two minutes. This incident occurred approximately two miles from the terminal, leaving little opportunity for intervention. Authorities reported that no suicide note was found, and Mott's belongings, including his vehicle, remain unaccounted for. Police are continuing their investigation and have requested anyone with information about Mott to come forward.

Washington defended the airport's security protocols, emphasizing that the facility covers 53 square miles and has 36 miles of perimeter fencing. "Safety and security are always our top priorities," he stated. "We aim to ensure our fence is not a deadly barrier, and even with a taller fence, a determined individual could still find a way to breach it." The airport plans to conduct a thorough review of the incident. Washington acknowledged that there have been previous instances of individuals breaching the fence, but those cases were resolved quickly. Following the incident, twelve passengers on the aircraft sustained injuries during the emergency evacuation. The National Transportation Safety Board has indicated that it will not investigate the death itself, as it falls outside its jurisdiction, but will review information related to the evacuation.