US Airport Worker Dies After Being Sucked Into Plane's Engine

A US ground crew worker died in an accident after being 'ingested into the engine' of an aircraft at an airport in Montgomery, Alabama

Man dies after being sucked into the engine of a plane in US

Source : Getty Images

A US ground crew worker died in an accident after being “ingested into the engine” of an aircraft at an airport in Montgomery, Alabama. The incident took place after one of the engines of an American Airlines regional carrier flight was left running at the airport, news agency Reuters reported citing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board said the incident occurred when American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175 was parked at the gate after arriving from Dallas, according to the report. The airport was closed after the incident.

The flight was operated by Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, according to the online publication Insider report.

In a statement to the Insider, the National Transportation Safety Board said the accident took place when an American Airlines Embraer 170 was parked at the gate with at least one engine on. The statement added that a preliminary report is expected in two to three weeks.

The ground crew worker was employed with Piedmont Airlines, another American regional subsidiary. The accident occurred on Saturday around 3 pm.

“We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,” said Wade A Davis, the airport’s executive director in a statement.

The airport reopened after an immediate shutdown following the accident that left everyone shocked. Currently, the incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transpiration Safety Board, The Mirror reported.

Meanwhile, a small plane with four passengers crashed at a Utah airport on Monday leaving one dead and injuring three, news agency Associated Press reported citing city officials in Provo.

The plane crashed immediately after takeoff and one of the three survivors was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The other two sustained “minor bumps and bruises,” officials told.

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that it was investigating the crash of the aircraft, which it identified as an Embraer 505, a light business jet.