A San Antonio Airport worker was killed after being ingested into a plane's engine on Friday, said the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Authorities said the incident began after Delta Flight 1111 arrived at the airport and was taxiing to the gate on one engine at around 10:25 p.m. when the tragedy occurred. The plane, identified as an AIrbus A319, had just arrived after flying from Los Angeles International Airport.
San Antonio Airport Worker Dead
The victim was a staff employed by Unifi, a company Delta contracts with to support its ground-handling operations. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the deceased was an airport ramp worker.
A spokesperson for Delta noted that the company was heartbroken and grieving the loss of the life of an aviation family member in San Antonio. They added that they were giving their full support to the victim's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time, as per CBS News.
In a statement, Unifi said that based on its preliminary investigation, the tragic incident was not connected to the company's operational processes, safety procedures, or policies. Also, officials have not yet publicly identified the victim of the tragedy.
The recent incident is the second to have happened in the last six months and follows the death of a 34-year-old ground crew worker. That employee died after being ingested into a plane's engine at the Montgomery, Alabama, airport late last year.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said the tragedy could have been avoided if proper safety procedures were followed. In a statement, OSHA Area Director Jose A. Gonzalez said that proper training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented such a tragedy.
Last year's fatality resulted in the regional carrier Piedmont Airlines being fined $15,625 by the OSHA on Wednesday. According to the South China Morning Post, the decision to issue the fine comes as Piedmont is a subsidiary of American Airlines.
Ground Crew Worker Ingested Into Plane Engine
Regarding the American Airlines incident last year, the NTSB conducted an investigation that found the crew at the Montgomery Airport held two safety briefings 10 minutes before the plane arrived at the gate.
Officials told employees only to approach the aircraft once the engine was shut off and a beacon light was turned off. However, when the plane arrived, the pilot was alerted that the front cargo door was being opened just as he was about to shut down the right engine.
Video footage of the incident showed the victim, Courtney Edwards, walking toward the plane's rear while holding what appeared to be an orange safety cone. A short while after, the woman suddenly disappears from view, and the incident subsequently occurs.
A co-pilot later reported that the airplane shook violently and experienced an immediate automatic shutdown. A GoFundMe was launched after the incident to help the victim's three children. As of June 16, 2023, it has raised more than $114,000, more than four times its initial goal of $25,000, said the New York Post.
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