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Disturbing new details revealed in death of Denver airport intruder who died after breaching fence

Published

1 day ago

May 12, 2026

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255).

Officials revealed Tuesday that the individual killed in the horrific runway strike late Friday night in Denver died by suicide after breaching multiple airport security layers.

The trespasser was identified as 41-year-old Michael Mott, who was seen on video loitering near a runway at Denver International Airport before suddenly stepping in front of a Frontier Airlines jet during its takeoff roll.

Airport officials said they were not aware that Mott had entered the restricted area after scaling an 8-foot perimeter fence topped with barbed wire. He was ultimately pulled into the aircraft’s engine, which subsequently triggered a fire.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt and sharp-force injuries.

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According to airport representatives, ground detection sensors set off an alarm near the perimeter fence shortly after 11 p.m.

Authorities said airport operators monitoring live surveillance cameras initially did not spot any trespassers. Instead, they identified what appeared to be a herd of deer near the fence line. Ditches in the area may have also partially obstructed their view of the individual, officials added.

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Despite the initial findings, airport officials were notified shortly afterward that an individual had been struck by the aircraft while crossing the runway.

“And then just minutes later, we were alerted by the FAA of the person being hit,” Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington said.

“It took approximately 15 seconds for this person, to jump over the eight-foot fence topped with barbed wire,” Washington added. “The time between climbing over the fence and being struck by the plane again was approximately two minutes.”

Officials added that Mott crossed roughly 650 feet of land to reach the runway after scaling the fence.

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After the incident, investigators said the fence in the area where the breach occurred was found to be completely intact.

Officials stated they do not currently know how Mott traveled to such a remote area as investigators did not find any car, bicycle or other types of vehicles nearby.

The airport’s security system relies on 36 miles of TSA-compliant fencing, along with closed-circuit cameras, thermal imaging, ground-based radar and security patrols.

Officials emphasized that safety protocols and perimeter security are currently under review to identify potential improvements to the airport’s defense system, including efforts to address potential camera blind spots caused by ditches near the fence line.

There were 231 people on board Frontier Flight 4345, officials said.

Twelve passengers reported minor injuries, most of them sustained while using the emergency slide during the evacuation.

Five individuals were transported to local hospitals and four have been released. The condition of the remaining patient remains unknown.

The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted jointly by local law enforcement and federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

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Reunification Of Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless Sees 24% Ratings Increase For ‘First Take’

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May 14, 2026

Addison Blake

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Tech entrepreneur flees Washington due to companies being ‘villainized’

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2 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Addison Blake

A prominent Washington tech entrepreneur is joining the growing exodus of business leaders fleeing the Evergreen State, citing a “dramatic” shift in the state’s tax climate following the passage of a controversial new “millionaire tax.”

Jesse Proudman, the founder and CTO of the privacy-focused generative AI platform Venice.ai, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the state he once called a “startup sanctuary” has become increasingly hostile to the very people who fuel its economy.

“I started three companies here in the state. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life here,” Proudman said. “The business climate when I started my first company was very entrepreneurial-friendly, and the startup community was looked upon as a contributing member of the city. Over the last number of years, that has changed dramatically.”

Proudman, who previously founded the private cloud company Blue Box and the crypto-investing platform Makara, is now serving as a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington. The political committee is currently spearheading a massive signature-gathering effort to repeal the tax measure before it can take root.

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The tax, pushed through by the Democratic-controlled legislature during the 2026 session and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson in March, imposes a 9.9% levy on annual income exceeding $1 million. While it is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2028—with the first payments due in 2029—the mere threat of its implementation is already shifting the state’s demographics.

“We have until July 2nd to gather about 325,000 signatures to put this on the November ballot,” said Hallie Herzberg, Director of Communications for Let’s Go Washington. “The people deserve the right to vote on this. It’s already driving businesses, employers, and families out of the state.”

The move marks a seismic shift for Washington, which has historically been one of only a handful of states with no personal income tax. However, the legal ground shifted in 2023 when the state’s Supreme Court upheld a 7% capital gains tax, effectively opening the door for broader income-based levies that critics argue violate the state constitution’s requirement that property (which includes income) be taxed at a uniform rate.

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State Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle), the Senate Majority Leader and the bill’s primary sponsor, has dismissed concerns of “tax flight.”

“The reality is the millionaire tax is not likely to result in businesses leaving,” Pedersen told a local FOX affiliate following the bill’s signing. He later told Fox News Digital that there is “no evidence” that high earners will migrate to lower-tax jurisdictions like Florida or Texas.

Data from the Association of Washington Business (AWB) suggests otherwise. A recent survey reported by The Center Square found that 44% of business leaders in the state are considering moving their personal residences elsewhere. Furthermore, Washington businesses reported they are now more than twice as likely to expand outside the state than within it.

For Proudman, the decision has already been made. He plans to relocate his life and business interests to Austin, Texas.

“It’s no longer a friendly place to conduct business,” Proudman said. “Startup companies are being villainized. With the passing of this tax, we have looked at alternative places to move, and we’ll probably end up in Austin.”

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Proudman warned that while the tax is currently branded as a “millionaire’s tax” to gain public favor, the long-term economic consequences will eventually hit middle-class residents as the tax base shrinks.

“They are targeting a very highly mobile cohort of the population,” Proudman argued. “When those folks leave, this will become a tax on everybody. The voters are unwittingly creating an incredibly worse tax situation for themselves. Washington is already the 45th worst state from a tax point of view. This is a constitutionally illegal tax that ultimately will apply to everyone.”

Sen. Pedersen’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s latest request for comment.