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A 27-year-old dock worker at San Antonio International Airport died Friday night after being pulled into the engine of a Delta Air Lines jet that had just landed.
The worker was in the airport gate area around 10:30 p.m. when a Delta Airbus A319 arrived from Los Angeles, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the plane “was taxiing to the gate on one engine when a worker fell into that engine.”
The Bexar County coroner identified the man as David Renner and ruled the death a suicide. San Antonio police told the Washington Post Monday that they are still investigating and have not yet determined the manner of death. Both the FAA and NTSB are investigating the death.
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In a statement, Delta offered its condolences to the worker’s family. Renner was an employee of Unifi Aviation, a contractor that supports ground handling operations.
“We are heartbroken and mourn the loss of life of a member of the San Antonio aviation family,” the airline statement said. “Our hearts and full support are with her family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”
Unifi Aviation states on its website that the company employs more than 20,000 aviation workers at 200 locations in services such as ramp handling, catering provision, wheelchair assistance, lost baggage, security and employee shuttles.
“Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport in a tragic incident,” the Atlanta-based company said in a statement late Friday. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and we remain focused on supporting our local staff and ensuring they are cared for during this time.”
Unifi said that based on its initial investigation, the death “was unrelated to Unifi’s operations, safety procedures and policies.”
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Friday’s incident follows the December 31 death of a regional airline employee who was sucked in by a jet engine in Alabama.
Earlier this month, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration charged Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines Group, with a “serious violation” for exposing ground crew members to a choking hazard while performing aircraft maneuvering, wing walking and baggage handling duties. The department said the airline has challenged the findings but faces a $15,625 penalty.
In this case, the worker was placing cones around a regional jet when she was attracted by suction near one of the engines, according to an OSHA press release.
“Adequate training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented this tragedy,” said Jose A. Gonzalez, OSHA area director for Mobile, Alabama, in the press release. “This incident is a tragic reminder that safety precautions must be taken even during a routine operation.”
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