Man Dies After Running Toward Departing Plane and Being Sucked Into Engine in Italy

Airport Authorities Confirm: "Not an Employee or Passenger"

A passenger plane is preparing for takeoff at Bergamo Airport in Italy (photo to aid article understanding). Bergamo Airport X (formerly Twitter)

A man died after being sucked into the engine of a plane that was preparing for takeoff at an airport in Italy.

According to CNN affiliate Sky TG24 on July 8 (local time), the incident occurred as the plane was preparing to depart from Milan Bergamo Airport for Asturias in northwestern Spain on the morning of the same day. Airport officials stated that, while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff, a person ran onto the runway and was ultimately sucked into the engine.

According to The New York Times, Sacbo, the operator of Milan Bergamo Airport, said in a statement, "The man was neither a passenger nor an airport employee." The company added, "It is still unclear how he accessed the apron and taxiway, but he approached a stationary commercial aircraft with its engine running and died as a result."

Giovanni, a representative of Sacbo, said, "Today's tragic incident has deeply shocked the entire airport," and added, "From the very beginning of the accident, we have focused not only on the immediate management of the emergency and support for passengers and crew, but also on paying attention to colleagues who witnessed the event and were deeply affected."

In May last year, an airport worker died after climbing into the engine of an operating aircraft at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. At that time, Dutch military police ruled the case a suicide. In the same year, a man who passed through an emergency exit at Salt Lake City International Airport also died after climbing into an engine.