The story itself may be a dupe, but I have a question - unless you are standing directly in front of it, how far out can a turbofan suck someone in? What is a safe distance from the front? What about the sides?
Could someone sneak up from the side and stand next to the intake, or would that suck you in, too?
Crazy, thinking those fans are pushing that much air.
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Airline mechanic killed at El Paso International Airport
Times staff reports
Monday, January 16, 2006
An airline mechanic at the El Paso International Airport was sucked into an airplane's jet engine and killed Monday morning, officials said.
The name of the victim was not released but officials said the worker was doing maintenance work on a Boeing 737 when he was sucked into the engine.
"It was a Boeing 737 and was doing an engine run up for a maintenance problem and a person was sucked into the engine," said Roland Herwig, a spoksesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Oklahoma City.
Herwig referred inquiries to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is conducting an investigation of the incident, which occurred between 9 and 10 a.m.
Continental Airlines spokesman David Messing said a worker for one of Continental's suppliers was servicing the plane when the incident occurred.
Several Continental flights had been delayed while authorities investigated, but it was not known how many flights.
Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner issued the following statement: “My fellow co-workers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event,” Kellner said. “Continental is coordinating assistance for passengers who need help dealing with this tragedy.
Continental’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) team is also flying to El Paso to meet with employees.”
Read the full story in tomorrow's El Paso Times