A true nightmare for anyone afraid of airplanes. A person was actually killed after being sucked into the engine of a commercial jet on the tarmac at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on Wednesday.
The person, who has not yet been identified per De Telegraaf and The US Sun, was on the ground as the plane was pulling out of the gate to travel down the runway and fly away. The plane was an Embraer ERJ-190 traveling under the flag of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, per the outlets. It had been slated to fly to the town of Billund in Denmark at the time of the tragedy.
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Horrifically, many people on board the plane apparently witnessed the death. At least one witness reported to De Telegraaf that there was a “hellish noise” outside the plane, and then plumes of smoke shot out of the engine after the person was sucked into the jet turbine. Chillingly, another witness told that outlet:
“Many people saw it happen.”
OMG…
An airline employee also confirmed that they witnessed someone get sucked into the engine not long after the flight crew had completed safety instructions on board. At this point, authorities do not know — or at least they haven’t released publicly — whether the person was a ground employee, a passenger, or someone else who’d gotten onto the tarmac. But because of how many people witnessed the awful incident, KLM has already announced that passengers and ground crew employees are being given special care from trauma and grief counselors. In a statement, KLM explained:
“We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol. … The circumstances are currently under investigation.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Military Police in the Netherlands told Sky News on Wednesday afternoon it was too early to determine whether the incident was an accident or a suicide. Schiphol Airport officials released their own statement about the tragic incident, and indicated Royal Military Police investigators are currently on scene:
“A horrific incident occurred today where a person became trapped in the engine of an aircraft. Our thoughts are with the loved ones and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this incident. The Royal Military Police are currently conducting an investigation.”
What an awful situation — and even more tragic that so many people witnessed it, too. We send our condolences to the loved ones of the person who died, as well as all those now having to process the awful incident.
[Image via Warner Bros/YouTube]
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