Tough New Year as AA Employee Sucked In Engine in MGM

Baggage handler dies after engine tragedy

While details about the accident are still sparse, Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) has confirmed that a Piedmont Airlines (a subsidiary of American Airlines) ground crew employee was killed after an "industrial accident." The Washington Examiner reports that the individual, believed to be a baggage handler, died after they were sucked into an engine of an American Airlines plane.
Piedmont Airlines said,

"Today a Piedmont Airlines team member was involved in a fatal accident at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM). Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague's family and friends. We have mobilized our CARE team to provide support to our colleague's family, friends and co-workers."

The tragic accident happened at around 15:00 on Saturday, December 31st as Flight AA3408 from Montgomery to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) waited at the gate. The aircraft, an Embraer ERJ-175LR operated by AA subsidiary Envoy Air, was scheduled to depart MGM at 15:46 - the flight was understandably canceled and the airport closed for several hours before reopening on Saturday evening at around 20:30.

:( SAFETY 1ST !!

This is tragic news, my thoughts and prayers go out to their family.

Sad day indeed.  for all involved. Before I retired I was a member of the USAIRWAYS critical incident team and had respond to a fatal in DC , it was no fun .