Everything we know as man dies at airport after being 'sucked into plane engine' before takeoff
Topics: Travel, Plane, World News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: @aviationbrk/Twitter
Topics: Travel, Plane, World News
Here's everything we know about a man who tragically lost his life at an Italian airport, after being 'sucked into a plane engine' shortly before takeoff.
Disaster struck at Milan Bergamo Airport on Tuesday (July 8 ), when a then unnamed 35-year-old victim reportedly made his way onto the runaway.
The Volotea Airbus A319 that was headed to Asturias, Spain, was preparing for takeoff when the incident took place.
Sacbo, the company that manages the Milan aiport, said in a statement to the outlet that the 'incident occurred on the taxiway' and is now 'being investigated by police'.
Italian media has now named the victim as 35-year-old Andrea Russo from the Calcinate county in Bergamo, Lombardy.
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Metro reports he was a recovering addict, and was 'a good person trying to rebuild a life'.
Authorities have confirmed the man was not a passenger or employee that was expected to be onboard an aircraft when the incident happened.
It is reported that Russo is believed to have broken into the Italian airport by driving the wrong way down a road, before abandoning his car and then running into the terminal.
Russo was killed instantly after he was sucked into the engine by a plane turbofan.
Reports state Russo was inside the ground floor of the arrivals area when he opened a security door, leading to an area where aircrafts had been parked up.
La voce del Patriota reports that officers were unable to stop the man as he headed toward the Airbus A319 Volotea plane bound for Spain.
Giovanni Sanga, President of SACBO (which runs Bergamo airport), said: “Today’s tragic event has deeply shaken the entire airport community. First and foremost, I express my personal condolences and those of the company to the victim’s family, to whom we extend our heartfelt support during this terrible time.
“From the outset, in addition to ensuring the immediate management of the emergency and assistance to passengers and crew, we have also focused our attention on the colleagues who witnessed the episode and were deeply affected by it.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Volotea Airlines confirmed to Metro that one of its aircrafts had been involved in an accident.
"A person, who was not a passenger or airport personnel, trespassed onto the runway while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff," the spokesperson said.
"Sadly, the person was struck by the engine and has passed away. The airline deeply regrets this tragic incident and extends its condolences to the family of the person involved."
The statement continued: "The airline would like to express its gratitude to its crew for their swift response and support of passengers, as well as to its passengers for their cooperation during this difficult situation. The safety and well-being of Volotea’s passengers, crew, and airport partners is the airline’s top priority. The airline expresses its condolences once again to all those affected by this incident."
The tragedy grounded all other flights at the Italian airport until midday while other jets were diverted to other airports as emergency services attended to the scene.
Lombardy Airports Association said on Twitter: "Traffic to and from #orio #Bgy is suspended due to a serious issue on the apron. Possible delays, diversions, and cancellations throughout the morning. Updates will follow."