A man has allegedly committed suicide after throwing himself into a plane’s engine as it prepared for take-off.
Andrea Russo, 35, who was not a passenger or airport staff member, broke free from police who had attempted to stop him at Milan Bergamo Airport when he arrived without a ticket and started behaving erratically.
He then ran onto the tarmac before “throwing himself” into one of the two turbofans on a Volotea Airbus A319 flight from Milan to Austurias.
“We regret to confirm flight V73511 from BGY-OVD was involved in an incident at Milan-Bergamo Airport at 10:35h,” the airline said in a statement on X.
“One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and 6 crew are safe.”
Flights into the airport, which is one of Italy’s busiest, were either delayed, cancelled or diverted.
An eye-witness told Italian news outlet La Repubblica that he saw the man running away from a steward and towards the aircraft.
“I wasn’t on that plane, I was boarding another plane next to it and we saw everything.” he said.
“He ran towards the right side. The he ran and [was] sucked by the left side motor. I can’t describe it as pleasant.”
Police sources later said the man had a history of drug problems. An investigation is continuing.
