A person has died falling into a KLM passenger plane engine at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam according to local media reports.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the tragedy in the Netherlands’ capital’s airport at about 3pm today.
Passengers and flight crew were on board the Embraer 190 aircraft, due to fly KLM flight 1341 to Billund in Denmark when the incident happened.
Initial reports suggest it is unclear whether the person was a passenger on the flight or a member of staff working at the airport.Â
A Royal Military Police account in the Netherlands shared the news on social media platform X, writing: “An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.”
Schipol Airport also took to the social media platform to send their condolences to the family of the person who died.Â
The airport’s account wrote: “Today there was a horrible incident where a person ended up in an airplane engine. Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this. The Royal Military Police is currently conducting an investigation.”
Passengers and crew were reportedly on the ground to witness the incident before emergency services arrived. The identity of the deceased remains unknown, so it is not clear whether they were a passanger or crew member.
Witnesses told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf of a “hellish noise” as the person was sucked in, adding that “many people saw it happen.”
Pilots union VNV said in a statement: “Our first concern and thoughts go out to those involved and their relatives. We offer our cooperation and expertise in the investigation into the exact cause.”
Mark Harbers, the country’s Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, posted to X: “Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.”