Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine in US

A ground worker was killed at San Antonio International Airport in the US state of Texas after being “ingested” into a plane’s engine on Friday, officials said.

Delta Air Lines Flight 1111 arrived in San Antonio from Los Angeles and was taxiing to a gate using an engine “when an employee was ingested into that engine at about 10:25 p.m. [horário local],” the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a statement to CNN on Sunday night (25).

The NTSB continues to gather information about what happened. The airport is working with authorities on the investigation, a spokesman said.

“An accident occurred at San Antonio International Airport on Friday night that resulted in the death of a member of the airline’s ground staff,” airport spokeswoman Erin Rodriguez said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation. We will share more information once details are available.”

Delta Air Lines said it was “mourning” the loss.

“We are heartbroken and mourning the loss of life of a member of the aviation family in San Antonio. Our hearts and full support are with their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time,” a Delta spokesperson told CNN by email.

An airport worker who died in an accident at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama last New Year’s Eve was also ingested into an aircraft engine, the NTSB said in a January statement.

That aircraft, an Embraer 170 operated by regional carrier Envoy Air, was “parked at the gate with the parking brake engaged when ground support personnel were ingested,” the agency said.

“We are saddened to learn of the tragic loss of a member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines team,” said airport executive director Wade Davis at the time. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”