Passengers on board a commercial plane at Milan Bergamo Airport have shared the shocking moment an Italian man, Andrea Russo, 35, was sucked into a jet engine.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning, as the Volotea flight was preparing for takeoff.
Eyewitness Accounts Describe Chaos and Confusion
One passenger described the moment the incident took place, stating, “Suddenly, we heard a noise and a bang. Some people saw something through the window and put their hands to their heads.”
Another passenger recalled being told by stewards to pull down the shutters on their windows, while firemen formed a corridor down the plane’s stairs to cover up the scene.
A person has been sucked into an aircraft engine on the taxiway at Milan Bergamo Airport in Italy on Tuesday morning, the country’s media reported.
SACBO, the airport’s operator, said flights were suspended at 10:20 a.m. local time “due to a problem that occurred on the… pic.twitter.com/heyFgR8x2W
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) July 8, 2025
Investigating the Cause of the Tragedy
Russo, a builder from Calcinate near Bergamo, had reportedly trespassed onto the runway by driving the wrong way down a road and abandoning his Fiat 500.
He managed to free himself from two border officers before sprinting onto the tarmac.
The incident is being investigated, with possibilities including a drug problem and premeditated suicide.
Flight Disruptions and Emergency Response
The incident resulted in the cancellation of around 19 flights, according to Flightradar24 data. However, airport operator SACBO reported that air traffic resumed at 12pm local time.
Ryan Trumpeter, a British passenger on a different plane, witnessed the emergency response and described the scene as “really confusing.”
Statement from Volotea and Ongoing Investigation
In a statement on social media, Volotea said, “We’re investigating reports of an incident involving our flight V73511 BGY-OVD, which occurred on the ground after boarding was completed and ready for departure.
We’re aware that one individual has sustained serious injuries involving the aircraft engine.” The incident is currently being investigated, with more information to be released soon.