UMVA has learned that the individual who tragically lost his life after being struck by a jet engine at Denver International Airport was a man with a long and violent criminal history.
Authorities have concluded that 41-year-old Michael Mott deliberately stepped into the path of the oncoming Airbus A-321neo during takeoff. The medical examiner officially ruled the death a suicide, citing multiple blunt and sharp force injuries sustained during the collision.
UMVA has uncovered details about Mott’s extensive criminal background, which spanned more than two decades. His records include arrests for second-degree homicide, felony assault on a peace officer, burglary, and multiple counts of domestic violence.
Just one month prior to his death, Mott had been arrested for felony trespassing. His history also included a brazen attempt to escape from prison in 2017, highlighting a life marked by repeated run-ins with the law and violent instability.
The incident unfolded with terrifying speed after Mott scaled an eight-foot perimeter fence topped with barbed wire. Security systems failed to detect him immediately, as cameras were distracted by a herd of deer in the vicinity, leaving him out of sight in the airport's landscape.
Within just two minutes of crossing the perimeter, Mott reached the runway and collided with the aircraft as it accelerated to 139 mph. The force of the impact caused the engine to burst into flames, leaving the pilot to radio a chilling report of human remains scattered across the tarmac.
Passengers aboard the flight described a scene of absolute horror as they heard a massive explosion and witnessed the aftermath of the collision. While the plane’s crew managed to evacuate everyone on board safely, the event left many of the travelers deeply traumatized by the gruesome nature of the accident.
