Only in El Chuco

Investigation into plane mechanic's death continuesTammy Fonce-OlivasEl Paso TimesTuesday, January 17, 2006Federal aviation experts and local police today will continue to investigate how an airplane mechanic was sucked into a plane's jet engine and killed Monday in what officials said is a rare occurrence that stunned passengers and employees at El Paso International Airport.The mechanic, whose name was withheld until relatives could be notified, had been working on the plane about 9 a.m. when he was suddenly pulled into the jet engine of a Continental Airlines Boeing 737 bound for Houston."It was a Boeing 737 and it was doing an engine run up for a maintenance problem and a person was sucked into the engine," said Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in Oklahoma City.Herwig referred further inquiries to the office of the National Transportation Safety Board in Denver. Officials would not say what kind of maintenance was being performed on the plane.NTSB officials in Denver and Washington, D.C., did not respond, but local airport officials said the federal agency is investigating the death and is sending a team to El Paso.


Martin DeLeon, a Continental Airlines spokesman from Houston who flew to El Paso after learning about the fatality, said the victim worked for one of Continental's suppliers. DeLeon said he did not know the names of the victim or the supplier company.Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner issued the following statement after learning of the death:"My fellow co-workers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event. 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."DeLeon said he did not know if other Continental flights were delayed because of the incident. He also said it was unknown Monday if the airline will alter its safety procedures."Right now, it's still kind of too early to tell since this incident occurred just a few hours ago," DeLeon said. "Our main focus right now is just working with the families (of the victim and passengers) and of course working with local and federal authorities on the investigation."DeLeon said the airline brought a special team to El Paso to help people cope with the incident, find flights and offer whatever services were needed.The plane, which carried 114 passengers and five crew members, was at the gate boarding passengers when the incident occurred.Many of the passengers, who gathered at the Continental Airlines counter after they deplaned, declined to comment because they were overwhelmed by what had just occurred. Many of the passengers were interested in finding out what happened, where their luggage was and how they could book another flight.El Pasoan Patsy Yturralde, who was going to Houston, said she and other passengers were told to leave the plane because "somebody got hurt."She said she didn't see the incident, but quickly caught on to what had happened."It's a sad situation. I feel bad for his family," she said.El Pasoan Carlos Saucedo, who was headed to Atlanta through Houston, said he heard some kind of thump after he boarded the airplane. He said he didn't know what it was."It made the plane shake a bit," he said.Almost immediately after that occurred, passengers were asked to deplane, he said.Pat Abeln, director of aviation for the airport, said airport employees were saddened by the death. There was "a very small number of employees" who witnessed what happened. These employees are being offered support through the airport's employees assistance program, he said."It's had a tough impact on our employees," Abeln said. "In terms of operations and in terms of overall air safety our operations have been fine."Abeln said incidents leading to injuries or deaths of airport employees are "pretty uncommon" at the El Paso airport and at airports worldwide.Abeln couldn't immediately say how many injuries have been reported at the airport this year or in recent years. But he did say Monday's fatality may possibly be the first of its kind at the airport."I cannot recall another incident like this," said Abeln, who has been at the helm of the airport since 1999.Airport employees working Monday could be seen and heard talking about the fatality among themselves, but they declined to make comments when asked.