An American Airlines employee was killed Saturday after penetrating the engine of a plane parked at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
According to WSFA-TV, an Envoy/American Eagle Embraer 170-200 LR was parked at a gate with the parking brake on when a ground worker was somehow pulled into one of the plane’s engines, according to the NTSB.
KRLD Radio reported that the ground worker was a baggage handler, although the airline has yet to issue an official statement about the incident or identify the employee.
Airport executive director Wade Davis said in a statement Sunday they were “sad to hear of the tragic loss of a team member at AA/Piedmont Airlines” and that “our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time.” “
Further details about the accident are not yet available, and the NTSB said a preliminary accident report should be released within the next two to three weeks.
Flight 3408 was scheduled to depart Montgomery for DFW around 3:00 p.m. Saturday. The airport suspended operations after the accident, but resumed operations around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The FAA and NTSB investigations are ongoing.