An airport worker at San Antonio International Airport died after being sucked into the engine of an aeroplane.
The worker, for Delta Airlines, was on the tarmac when she was sucked into an engine of a Delta aircraft, at approximately 10.25pm on Friday (June 23).
Emergency services swiftly responded to the incident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the ground crew member died after being ‘ingested’ into the engine.
Delta Flight 1111, which had just arrived from Los Angeles, was taxiing to a gate when the accident occurred.
The worker’s identity has not yet been disclosed.
The NTSB stated that the plane had one engine on at the time when the worker was sucked into it.
Authorities are currently investigating the death of the airline ground crew member. The NTSB has been in contact with Delta Airlines to gather information regarding the incident.
Delta Airlines expressed their condolences in a statement released on Saturday.
It read: ‘We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family member’s life in San Antonio.
“Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.’
The worker was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company contracted by Delta Airlines for ground handling operations.
Unifi Aviation released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragic incident and offering support to their employees.
They emphasized that the incident was unrelated to their operational processes and safety procedures.
This incident is the latest in a series of ground accidents at US airports.
In a similar incident on New Year’s Eve, a ground crew worker for a subsidiary of American Airlines was fatally sucked into the engine of one of their planes.
The airline was fined $15,000, and the incident prompted investigations into safety breaches.
Courtney Edwards, 34, was ‘ingested into the engine’ at Montgomery Regional Airport, Alabama, on New Year’s Eve.
The mother of three was on the ramp where American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175, was parked before she died.
