American Airlines employee dies of 'traumatic injuries' after service vehicle collides with jet bridge at Austin airport
AUSTIN, TEXAS: An American Airlines worker died on Thursday afternoon at an airport gate following a collision between a ground service vehicle and a jet bridge. The employee died due to severe injuries sustained on the tarmac of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. The unfortunate incident took place on Thursday, April 20, at approximately 2 pm, and despite the prompt arrival of Austin Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) paramedics, the staff member was declared dead on-site.
According to a representative of the airport, the paramedics swiftly responded to the incident on the airfield apron and concluded that the cause of death was traumatic injuries. The Austin police department reported that they were looking into an incident of a crash, but the Austin Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) confirmed that they were sent to attend to a case of cardiac arrest, according to KVUE.
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Statement by Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
In a statement, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport said, "This afternoon AUS was notified that Austin-Travis County EMS responded to an injured airline employee. The incident occurred outside of the terminal where aircraft park at their gates. ATCEMS pronounced the employee deceased. Our thoughts are with this employee and all those impacted by today's tragic event." The airport also stated that the incident would not cause significant disruption to its activities.
Statement by American Airlines
American Airlines verified that the individual who died was a member of their personnel when contacted by Daily Mail. In their statement, the company expressed its condolences and offered its support to the staff member's family and colleagues. "We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time."
Similar incident
Several months prior to this incident, another airline employee died in a tragic accident at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama. Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old ground agent working for Piedmont Airlines, was violently drawn into the engine of a plane shortly after it had landed, resulting in her untimely death on New Year's Eve. According to reports, Edwards had been cautioned multiple times to keep her distance after standing too close to the engine before she was inadvertently pulled into the machinery, causing the entire aircraft to shake.