Dutch police have reported that a male employee at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, who tragically died after being sucked into a plane’s engine, is believed to have entered the engine intentionally.
The incident involved a KLM Cityhopper Embraer E190 aircraft that was preparing for departure to Denmark. Passengers and crew members witnessed the tragic event before emergency services arrived on the scene.
As the aircraft was preparing to depart, witnesses reported hearing a “sinister noise” as the individual was drawn into the engine. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, leading the investigation, confirmed that the deceased had been identified as an employee of an airport-related company and that evidence suggests he climbed onto the engine in a deliberate act, indicating suicide. Out of respect for the victim and their family, no further details were provided.
Footage from the scene showed emergency vehicles surrounding the aircraft. The flight, scheduled to depart at 2:25 PM, was halted as more than 80 passengers were evacuated and interviewed by military police. Witnesses to the incident have been deemed crucial to the investigation, and psychological support was offered to those affected.
A replacement flight to Billund, Denmark, was arranged, departing later that evening. KLM has expressed their condolences and is providing support to passengers and employees impacted by the incident. The circumstances surrounding the event are under investigation.