A devastating incident occurred at a Texas airport, resulting in the death of an airport employee who was tragically sucked into a passenger plane engine. The incident took place as a Delta plane was taxiing towards its gate with one engine turned on. Officials confirmed that the worker was “ingested” into the engine, leading to the fatal outcome.
Authorities have stated that an initial investigation by the worker’s employers, Unifi Aviation, indicates that the incident was not related to safety procedures. However, the specific details of how this tragic event unfolded are yet to be determined.
A government agency is conducting a separate investigation into the incident. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been in contact with Delta Air Lines and is currently in the process of gathering information.
The plane involved in the incident was an Airbus A319 that had arrived in San Antonio from Los Angeles International Airport on Friday night.
As of now, the employee’s identity has not been released. Unifi Aviation is contracted by Delta Air Lines for ground crew operations. The company expressed that their initial investigation suggests the incident was unrelated to their operational processes, safety procedures, and policies.
Delta Air Lines expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the “aviation family member’s life” and extended their heartfelt support to the employee’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. The airline assured that they are cooperating with authorities as the investigation unfolds.
This incident follows a similar tragedy that occurred in Alabama six months earlier, where a ground crew worker lost their life in a comparable incident involving another regional airline, Piedmont. Following the incident, Piedmont was fined $15,625 (£12,285) by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA emphasized that proper training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented the tragic outcome.
As the investigations continue, the focus remains on understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident and implementing measures to enhance safety and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
