A tragic incident unfolded at Milan Bergamo Airport on March 26, 2024, when a 35-year-old construction worker, Andrea Russo, was fatally sucked into the engine of an aircraft. The events transpired shortly before the scheduled departure of a Volotea Airbus A319 carrying 154 passengers to Asturias, Spain.
Witnesses describe a chaotic scene as Russo, reportedly from Calcinate in Bergamo, Lombardy, breached airport security and accessed the tarmac without a ticket. He was seen running towards the aircraft just before 10:20 a.m., shortly before the plane was set to take off. Eyewitness accounts detail how passengers experienced intense vibrations and confusion as the tragic event unfolded.
Carmen Garcia, a passenger from Spain, recounted the horrifying moment to La Nueva Espana. “We were in the plane and about to take off when a person came running towards us. He got under the plane, and suddenly we felt a very powerful vibration. People ducked down and covered their heads,” she said. Emergency services, including fire brigades and police, swiftly arrived on the scene, halting all airport operations.
Another passenger, Daniel Isla, shared his experience, stating, “I heard a tremendous noise from the engine turbine. The pilot later informed us that a tragedy had occurred and that someone had been sucked into the engine. It was hard to believe at first.” Fellow passenger Ana Sanchis described how crew members instructed passengers to close window shutters, as the scene outside was deemed “very unpleasant.”
The flight originally scheduled to depart at 10:30 a.m. was delayed significantly, ultimately taking off at 16:45 p.m. on a different aircraft, arriving in Asturias just before 19:00 local time.
Reports indicate that Russo may have had a history of personal issues, including drug problems. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his actions, with Maurizio Romanelli, the district attorney, stating, “We are investigating any possible relationships with the airport or the aviation industry.” Russo’s vehicle, found abandoned at the airport, contained various materials, but nothing that could explain his actions.
One witness described seeing Russo running from officials before he approached the aircraft. “At first, I thought he jumped against one engine, but then he went around and was sucked into the other engine,” the witness explained. The nature of Russo’s actions remains uncertain, with investigators exploring whether his approach was intentional.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of security protocols at airports and the potential consequences when they are breached. As investigations continue, authorities are focused on understanding the motivations behind this fatal occurrence and ensuring that similar events do not happen in the future.
