A 27-year-old ground crew worker contracted by Delta Airlines died on Friday, June 23, after being sucked into an aircraft engine.
The grim occurrence took place at San Antonio International Airport around 10:25 pm. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the death of the worker, identified as David Renner, who was pulled into the running engine. The accident occurred as Delta Flight 1111, en route from Los Angeles, was taxiing towards a gate.
The NTSB elaborated that the accident happened when the aircraft had one engine operating. Following the incident, the airplane remained at the gate the next morning, causing several operational delays at the airport. Investigations are currently in progress to determine the circumstances leading up to this accident.
Unifi Aviation, Renner’s employer, clarified that the tragic incident was not tied to any breaches in their safety standards.The accident immediately sparked concerns about safety procedures at the airport, but the medical examiner ruled that Renner committed suicide.
This incident adds to a growing tally of ground accidents that have taken place at US airports over the previous year. In January, an American Airlines subsidiary, Piedmont Airlines, was slapped with a $15,625 fine after a ground crew member, Courtney Edwards, 34, was sucked into an engine in Montgomery, Alabama.
