A tragic incident occurred at Salt Lake City Airport when 30-year-old Kyler Efinger from Park City was found dead after climbing into a plane’s engine. The event unfolded on Monday when Efinger, who had a boarding pass for a flight to Denver, breached an emergency exit door while on a Delta Airlines plane.
Efinger managed to walk onto the tarmac and climbed into one of the jet’s engines. At the time, the plane was stationed on a de-icing pad, and its turbines were in motion. Salt Lake City Police found Efinger unconscious inside the engine intake cowling, which is a component that directs airflow into the engine fan. Despite emergency services’ efforts to pull him out and administer medical assistance, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident was initially reported by a store manager at the airport, who noticed a passenger going through an emergency exit around 10 pm. Police officers found Efinger’s clothing and personal items on a runway and immediately informed the aircraft’s pilot to shut off the engines.
Paramedics attempted resuscitation efforts, including CPR and the administration of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, but were unable to save Efinger. The cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
Following the incident, the flight, Delta 2348 bound for San Francisco, was canceled. Passengers were safely deplaned, and a Delta spokesperson confirmed the airline’s full cooperation with aviation authorities and law enforcement in their investigations. They emphasized that nothing is more important than the safety and security of their customers and personnel.
