Reports indicates ramp worker was sucked into engine accidentally before medical examiner provides tragic update.
A US airport worker has been killed in what Delta Airlines initially described as a freak accident involving an airbus A319 at San Antonio International Airport in Texas.
The ramp worker had appeared to have been accidentally sucked into an engine while the flight from Los Angeles was taxying to a gate at the airport on one engine, before a medical examiner determined the 27-year-old had taken his own life.
The National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) initially opened an investigation but closed it on Monday this week after the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office ruled on the cause of death.
The employee’s identity has yet to be released, but he worked with Unifi Aviation, a contract firm the airport uses to supply ground-handling operations. The company confirmed the tragedy was unrelated to its safety procedures.
In a statement, the company said: “Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport during a tragic incident in the late hours of Friday, June 23, 2023.
“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. From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi’s operational processes, safety procedures and policies.”
