Tragedy at Milan Bergamo Airport as Man Dies After Being Pulled Into Aircraft Engine
Milan, Italy – July 8, 2025:
A horrifying accident unfolded at Milan Bergamo Airport (Orio al Serio International Airport) on Tuesday morning when a man in his mid-thirties lost his life after breaching a secure area and being sucked into the engine of a departing aircraft.
The incident occurred around 10:20 a.m. local time, involving a Volotea Airbus A319 that was preparing for departure to Asturias, Spain. Italian media reports confirm the aircraft was engaged in a routine pushback manoeuvre when the tragedy took place.
According to initial investigations and local news reports, the man, who has yet to be formally identified, drove to the terminal, abandoned his vehicle, and entered the airport the wrong way. He reportedly accessed the arrivals area on the ground floor, then forced open a restricted security door that led directly to the aircraft parking zone—an area strictly off-limits to unauthorized individuals.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the man ran across the tarmac before approaching the aircraft, placing himself in immediate danger. It was at this point that he was pulled into the running jet engine, resulting in instant death. Authorities have confirmed that the victim was neither a registered passenger nor an airport employee, raising urgent concerns about airport perimeter and internal security protocols.
Airport Operations Temporarily Suspended
Following the incident, SACBO, the airport’s operating authority, issued a statement declaring that all flight operations were suspended from 10:20 a.m. until approximately noon local time. The official statement cited “technical problems involving an aircraft on the runway” as the reason for the temporary halt.
During this period, departures were delayed, and several incoming flights were either diverted or cancelled. Full operations gradually resumed after noon once emergency crews and investigators cleared the area and ensured safety compliance.
Investigation Underway
The Italian Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV), the country’s national flight safety agency, alongside local law enforcement, has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Authorities aim to determine how the individual managed to bypass multiple security layers in what is considered one of Italy’s busiest and most secure airports.
As part of the investigation, airport CCTV footage is being reviewed, and interviews are underway with airport staff, security personnel, and Volotea crew members. The airline is also cooperating fully with authorities.
In a statement, Volotea Airlines expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family, reaffirming its commitment to safety and ongoing cooperation with the investigation.
Heightened Security Concerns
This incident has sparked renewed debate over aviation security measures at European airports. While unauthorized access to aircraft zones is extremely rare, the tragedy at Milan Bergamo raises serious questions about how a civilian was able to reach the taxiway during active aircraft movement without interception.
According to ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) regulations, all Italian airports are required to maintain multiple levels of security, including surveillance, physical barriers, and personnel patrols. It remains unclear which of these protocols may have failed in this case.
Security experts suggest this breach could lead to stricter controls, enhanced terminal monitoring, and improved emergency response systems across Italian airports.
About Milan Bergamo Airport
Located in the Lombardy region, Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) is Italy’s third-busiest airport, serving over 14 million passengers annually. It is a major hub for low-cost carriers, including Ryanair and Volotea, and connects Northern Italy to key destinations across Europe and beyond.
The airport has seen significant expansion in recent years, including new security infrastructure, but this incident underscores the need for constant evaluation of safety standards in high-traffic areas.
Conclusion
The tragic death of a man at Milan Bergamo Airport after being pulled into a running aircraft engine has shocked the aviation community and prompted immediate scrutiny into airport security protocols. As investigations continue, authorities are expected to release more information in the coming days.
For now, passenger operations at the airport have resumed, but the incident leaves behind serious questions about preventing such tragedies in the future.
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