Denver airport security initially missed trespasser who was killed by plane on runway

A 41-year-old man struck and killed by a plane in a fiery collision at Denver International Airport was intending to end his own life when he scaled an 8-foot fence and walked onto a runway — a security breach that airport personnel initially missed, authorities said Tuesday.

The collision underscores the longstanding challenge of keeping intruders out of major airports such as Denver’s, which sprawls across 53 square miles (138 square kilometers), twice the size of Manhattan.

The trespasser triggered an alarm as he crossed into the airport in a remote area about 2 miles from the terminal late Friday night. But security personnel mistakenly attributed that alarm to a herd of deer that was nearby.

No note from the victim was recovered and officials determined the cause of death to be suicide based on their postmortem examination, said Sterling McLaren, chief medical examiner for the city and county of Denver. She did not provide further details.

The collision involving the Frontier Airlines plane sparked an engine fire that forced passengers to evacuate. Twelve people sustained minor injuries and five were taken to hospitals. Four have since been released, said airport Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington.

A black-and-white video released by the airport shows, from a distance, a tiny figure walking toward the runway with arms swaying. The person crosses onto the runway at a slight angle and seconds later the plane is seen speeding past. It strikes the person with its right engine, which bursts into flame upon impact.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or are in distress, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor.