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As I wrote about this past weekend, a Frontier Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff Friday night after striking a pedestrian on the runway at Denver International Airport (DEN). This resulted in the death of a 41-year-old man that authorities have now determined died by suicide.
Flight F9 4345, an Airbus A321neo bound for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members when the incident occurred at approximately 11:19 PM. According to airport officials, the aircraft had been accelerating for departure when the flight crew reported hitting a person on the runway. The aircraft immediately rejected takeoff as emergency crews responded to the scene.
The victim was later identified as Michael Mott, 41, by the Office of the Medical Examiner for the City and County of Denver. Chief Medical Examiner Sterling McLaren said the cause of death was determined to be multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.
Black-and-white security footage released by airport officials reportedly shows a person approaching the active runway and walking across it moments before the collision occurred. The Airbus A321neo can then be seen entering the frame during its takeoff roll before the individual disappears from view. One of the aircraft’s engines subsequently caught fire following the impact. Officials said no suicide note has been discovered and investigators have not yet located any of Mott’s belongings (including a vehicle).
Following the collision, a brief engine fire broke out on the aircraft. Airport fire crews quickly extinguished the flames before the situation escalated further. Passengers were evacuated using emergency slides and transported back to the terminal by bus. Many of these passengers brought their belongings (which is just so wrong).
According to reports, 12 passengers sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process. No serious injuries among passengers or crew were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local law enforcement agencies are continuing to investigate how the individual gained access to the runway area at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Anthony’s Take: The incident caused temporary operational disruptions at Denver International Airport (DEN) ate Friday night as emergency responders secured the scene and investigators began their work. My condolences to the man’s family and friends.
(Featured Image Credit: Frontier Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
