Tragedy struck Friday at San Antonio International Airport after an airline worker was sucked into the jet engine of a Delta aircraft.
The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. on June 23 after Delta Flight 1111 arrived at the airport from Los Angeles. Shortly after landing, the worker was “ingested” into an engine while the plane was taxiing, the National Transportation Safety Board told WOAI.
The airport released a statement saying, “An accident occurred on the ground at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) tonight that resulted in the fatality of an airline ground crew member. We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation. We will share more information as details become available.”
The local medical examiner’s office identified the worker killed as 27-year-old David Renner. Renner was employed by Unifi Aviation, North America’s largest ground handling and aviation service. Following the incident, the aviation service released a statement to San Antonio news affiliate KENS. In the statement, the company shares that the “incident was unrelated to Unifi’s operational processes, safety procedures, and policies.”
Renner’s death was ruled a suicide on Monday, June 26 2023, when he was identified. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the cause of his death to be “blunt and sharp force injuries.” The medical examiner’s office also said the doctor, “saw signs that pointed to suicide,” WOAI reported. NTSB halted its investigation into the incident after this confirmation as “there were no operational issues with either the airplane or the airport.”
Renner’s mother, Courtney McDowell and brother, Joshua Renner said they were shocked and did not believe the accident was a suicide. Joshua told Daily Mail that his older brother David had struggled with mental health issues and experienced an often complicated childhood, but he never thought David would take his life at the time of the accident.
“David had been clean for over eight months, was in therapy, [was] actively taking his prescribed medication and had finally become the David we all knew he could be,” Joshua said.
McDowell, David’s mother, told Daily Mail she does not believe her son’s death was a suicide as he witness his mother grieve the loss of his younger brother and promised he would ‘never do that’ to her.
McDowell said, “He was little when it happened, but he remembers how it affected me and he said, ”I will never do that to you mom cause I know how much it will hurt you.”
Both Joshua and McDowell reminisced on David’s lovable personality and joy for making others laugh. As they grieve their beloved family member, Joshua urged everyone to check in on others who are struggling, even strangers, as “The simplest smile can always make a difference.”
6-months Previous Airline Worker Incident
This isn’t the first time an airline worker has been killed after being ingested by a jet engine. At the very end of December 2022, Courtney Edwards, 34, was killed while working as a ground agent at Alabama’s Montgomery Regional Airport. According to The Dallas Morning News, Edwards was sucked into the jet engine when she walked too close.
The National Transportation Safety Board reported that extreme force pulled Edwards towards the engine opening and ingested her. American Airlines, which owned the subsidiary plane that murdered Edwards, was fined the maximum penalty of $15,625 by OSHA for a “serious breach of safety,” according to a press release from the Communications Workers of America.
“OSHA also found that the lack of effective training, clear and unambiguous communication on the ramp, and clear instructions from supervisors as to when it is safe to approach an aircraft were deficiencies that contributed to Courtney Edwards’ preventable death,” the release said.
The death at San Antonio International Airport is still under investigation. The airport, as well as Delta Airlines, said they will release more information once it becomes available.
“We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family member’s life in San Antonio,” Delta said in an email to McClatchy News. “Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.”
FAQ
Who was the man who went into the jet engine?
27-year-old David Renner, a worker with Unifi Aviation.
How close can you stand to a jet engine?
There is no guaranteed safe distance to stand within a jet engine from, as it varies according to the size of the aircraft. As a general rule, it’s recommended to stay at least 200 to 500 feet away from the front of a running jet.
Alexander Mitchell for Simple Flying explained, “A turbofan creates an area of low pressure, pulling in the air close to the engine’s intake rapidly, which could cause an unsuspecting employee to be tragically sucked in.”
This becomes even more dangerous with aircraft with less ground clearance, as they are lower to the ground and usually shorter, therefore exposing workers to the jet engines more closely.
