Man at US airport dies after being sucked into plane engine. It is not the first such death

A tragic and bizarre incident occurred at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, US, where a ground crew worker lost his life after being pulled into the engine of an Airbus A319. The unfortunate event took place at 10.25 pm on Friday (June 23) as the Delta plane was taxiing to the gate after arriving from Los Angeles.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the death and said that the man was "ingested" by the plane. 

The NTSB has been in contact with Delta. They are in the information-gathering process at this point

- NTSB

A passenger who was seated on that plane described the turmoil after the incident. 

When I looked out at the plane, there was a large tarp beneath the engine and a Hazmat crew in attendance

- Passenger [local reports]

The identity of the deceased crew member has not yet been released, and authorities are currently investigating the matter. Shockingly, this incident marks the second occurrence of its kind this year. Before delving into similar incidents, let's understand what "ingestion" means in this context.

Understanding plane ingestion

• In the aviation industry, plane ingestion typically refers to situations where foreign objects, including debris, loose items, or in rare cases, individuals, are drawn into an aircraft's engines.
• In simpler terms, the turbofan engines used in airplanes create a powerful pulling force or suction during operation. This suction rapidly draws in the surrounding air, creating a low-pressure area near the engine's intake.

• If an employee is standing too close to the engine, they can be unexpectedly pulled towards it with significant force. This tragic scenario can result in the person being sucked into the engine, leading to severe harm or even death.
• Ingestion incidents can occur due to various factors, with one common reason being the proximity of ground staff to aircraft engines during pre-flight preparations, maintenance activities, or ground operations.

• Accidents can also be caused by human error, lack of awareness, or failure to adhere to safety protocols. Unpredictable circumstances, such as strong air currents or sudden engine power-ups, can also contribute to unintended accidents.

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Previous incidents

Earlier this year, on New Year's Eve, Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old mother of three and a baggage handler, was tragically "ingested into the engine" at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama, US.

The airline is facing a $15,000 fine, with the incident attributed to a safety breach. This incident raised concerns about the safety protocols in place for ground staff.

Incidents like this in India 

Similar incidents have also occurred in India. On July 11, 2019, a 22-year-old maintenance staff member of SpiceJet was found hanging from the belly of a 90-seater Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

While fixing a problem with the plane's landing gear, Rohit Pandey's head and left arm got stuck inside the aircraft, while the rest of his body was hanging outside.

Another instance occurred in June 2015 when an Air India engineer in his forties lost his life after being ingested into the live engine of an A-319 aircraft at Mumbai airport.

What can be done?

In addition to prioritizing safety protocols, manufacturers should consider the risks of ingestion seriously during the manufacturing process and take necessary steps to mitigate them, particularly for smaller jets, as suggested by SimpliFlying.