The US National Transportation Safety Board announced on Sunday, June 25, that an employee died after being sucked into an engine operated by Delta Air Lines. The event took place at the airport in San Antonio, Texas. At an early stage, the investigation suggested that the worker intentionally stepped in front of the live engine.
The man died on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 10:25 p.m., after a Delta Air Lines plane, which had come from Los Angeles, was on its way to the arrival gate. The identity of the employee remains disclosed, and the official report stated that he was ingested into one of the plane’s engines running.
As incidents in airlines keep increasing, this new situation sparked concerns about the safety of workers at their job in the airport. However, the federal agency’s statement affirmed that the cause of death was not linked to operational processes, safety procedures, or protocols on the airline’s end. As of Monday, June 26, it was finally revealed that the worker, had in fact, taken his own life, according to the investigation.
Unifi Aviation, who provides operators for Delta and other airlines, stated that they felt“deeply saddened by the loss of [the] employee during a tragic incident.” Delta Air Lines also expressed that they were “heartbroken” for the loss of the “aviation family member.” As the cause of death was announced, Unifi Aviation said:
“Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time.”