Posted on 01/16/2006 6:44:14 PM PST by Brooklyn Kid
Airplane Mechanic Sucked Into Jet Engine, Killed at El Paso Airport
Monday, January 16, 2006
EL PASO, Texas — An airplane mechanic was killed Monday morning after he was sucked into a jet's engine while passengers were boarding from the tarmac, officials said.
"A mechanic walked in front of the engine and was pulled into the engine," National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Lauren Peduzzi said.
She said she didn't know if any passengers saw the accident as they boarded Continental Airlines flight 1515 to Houston. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the worker was sucked into the right engine of the 737-500.
The mechanic's identity wasn't released, but Continental identified the victim as an employee of one of Continental's suppliers. Continental released few other details about what it called a "ground incident" at El Paso International Airport.
"My fellow co-workers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event," Larry Kellner, Continental chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
There were 114 passengers and five crew members boarding the plane.
Peduzzi said there had been an earlier problem with the Number 2 engine, so the engine's metal covering was open at the time of the accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Ahhh . . . ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking . . . we're going to have a slight delay . . .
...that sucked...
There is no excuse for this -- except maybe a Darwin Award.
oh dear...
that was my first thought...
Is there a reason why jet engines have no protective screens over the intake? With birds impacts a problem you would think this might be wise.
And I thought I was having a rough day.
Guess not compared to this.
Prayers
Working on the flight deck of a carrier that was my biggest fear... When you get close though you can feel the suction... Poor fella must not have been paying attention. Sucks for him! (pun intended)
They're lucky that's all that happened. As I understand it, items sucked into jet intakes can make the impelers violently fly apart basicaly causing the engine to explode. I remember seeing a film in H.S. showing a wrench being thrown into a spinning jet turbine. To say the result was violent is putting it mildly; even in slow motion this thing came apart quickly. Can any of our wrenches out there describe this better?
I'm sure he learned his lesson and will be more careful next time.
"Is there a reason why jet engines have no protective screens over the intake?"
They'd probably get sucked into the jet engine... : )
Poor choice of words, there.
That sucked...LOL...I know it's sad but the comment was pretty funny.
Sounds like they were doing last minute troubleshooting on the tarmac... bad form... rushing anything like that causes accidents... As we see here.
Prayers for his family.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.