An American Airlines employee has died after being “swallowed” by the turbine of a parked plane at Alabama’s Montgomery Regional Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
According to WSFA-TV, an Envoy/American Eagle Embraer 170-200 LR was parked at a gate Saturday with the parking brake set when, according to the NTSB, a ground worker was somehow pushed against one of the engines of the airplane. .
KRLD radio reported that the ground worker was handling baggage, although the airline has not yet released an official statement about the incident or identified the employee.
Wade Davis, chief executive officer of the airport, said in a statement Sunday that they were “saddened to learn of the tragic loss of an AA/Piedmont Airlines team member. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.” hard”.
No further details about the crash are available yet, and the NTSB said a preliminary crash report is expected to be released within the next two to three weeks.
Flight 3408 was scheduled to leave Montgomery for DFW Airport at approximately 3:00pm Saturday. The airport ceased operations after the accident but resumed service around 8.30pm the same day.
The FAA and NTSB investigations are ongoing.