A tragic incident occurred at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the death of an individual who was sucked into the running engine of a KLM passenger jet. The incident took place as flight KL1341 was preparing for departure to Billund, Denmark.
KLM confirmed the incident, stating that it is providing support to passengers and employees who witnessed the horrifying event. The airline, along with the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the commencement of the investigation and noted that all passengers and crew members were safely removed from the aircraft. A spokesperson for the force indicated that it is too early to determine whether the incident was an accident or a deliberate act.
Dutch media outlets suggest the victim might have been an airport employee involved in ground operations, such as pushing back the airplane before takeoff. Graphic images broadcast by Dutch national broadcaster NOS showed emergency services surrounding the aircraft on the airport’s apron.
An anonymous witness told De Telegraaf newspaper that the individual jumped into the engine after the crew had completed their safety instructions, leading to what was described as a “hellish noise” and smoke.
Schiphol Airport released a statement expressing condolences: “Our thoughts go out to the [deceased’s] relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who saw this.”
Infrastructure Minister Mark Harbers also reacted on X, describing the news as “terrible.” Meanwhile, the Dutch Safety Board has dispatched a team to the airport to conduct a thorough investigation. The Dutch Association of Aviation Technicians (NVLT) extended their condolences to the victim’s family and all those affected.
Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports, handled nearly 5.5 million passengers last month. This tragic event follows another recent incident at the airport involving the arrest of rapper Nicki Minaj.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar tragedy last year when a 27-year-old airport worker in San Antonio, Texas, was fatally injured after being sucked into a Delta passenger plane engine.
The investigation into this recent incident at Schiphol Airport is ongoing, and further details will be released as they become available.
