Mechanic sucked into jet engine

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/16/airplane.fatality/index.html



Mechanic sucked into jet engine
Fatal accident occurred as aircraft prepared to fly to Houston


Monday, January 16, 2006; Posted: 5:55 p.m. EST (22:55 GMT)
CNN) -- A mechanic standing near a Boeing 737 at El Paso International Airport in Texas was sucked into one of the engines and killed Monday, officials said.
Continental Airlines Flight 1515 was preparing to take off for Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston when "a maintenance-related engine run-up of the right-hand engine" was carried out, said Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration's southwest region in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
"Someone on the ground was sucked into the engine," he said.
In a written statement, Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner said the person killed was a mechanic who worked for one of the airline's suppliers.
"My fellow coworkers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event," Kellner said.
The 737-500 was carrying 114 passengers and five crew members at the time of the accident, he said.
"Continental is coordinating assistance for passengers who need help dealing with this tragedy," Kellner said. "Continental's Employee Assistance Program team is also flying to El Paso to meet with employees."
He said the incident occurred during a maintenance check in preparation for the plane's departure.
A spokeswoman for Boeing said Monday's incident is not the first such accident. "It doesn't happen very often," spokeswoman Liz Verdier said. "It has happened in the past."
Either way, she said, the responsibility lies with Continental: "The airlines are responsible for their safety procedures."
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators from its office in Denver, Colorado,Herwig said.


what a gruesome scene this must have been.
 
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Bricklayer said:
Um...ouch. :eek:

I doubt he felt much of it. Flight mechanics more often get decapitated by helicopter rotors. Well, it's more like they lose most of their skull, but the sack of skin that once contained it stays attached to the body. I don't know if that's legit decapitation, but the effect is the same.
 
Oh.....:eek: I sure hope the passengers didn't see this accident occur and have to watch this guy get diced into pieces. I don't know what their view was like sitting inside of the airplane in their seats.
 
Wow ... what gets me is they openly say IT HAPPENS - but it doesn't happen much.

I'm sorry, but THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AT ALL.
 
Folsom Al said:
IMO - I disagree ... this is NOT any accident.

This is human error - LACK OF COMMUNICATION

I agree, this is absolutely an unnecessary tragedy. I really have sympathy for the family involved.
 
Folsom Al said:
IMO - I disagree ... this is NOT any accident.

This is human error - LACK OF COMMUNICATION

Again, that is something (human error) that could happen in any profession. It's not right, but it does happen.
 
That's horrible and I also hope the passengers didn't see what happened. I would have to read this right before I fly for the first time in over 20 years.:(
Prayers to the mechanic's family.
 
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