Medical examiner concludes employee took his own life
There were no operational safety issues surrounding the death of the ground worker who was sucked into a plane engine at the San Antonio International Airport in Texas, according to reports.
"There were no operational safety issues with either the airplane or the airport," officials ruled as quoted by BBC.
Initial investigation by the ground worker's employer, Unifi Aviation, also affirmed that the incident was not related to their safety procedures.
"From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi's operational processes, safety procedures, and policies," Unifi said in a statement quoted by the news outlet.
Cause of workplace death
The 27-year-old ground worker was "ingested" on Friday night into the plane engine of an Airbus A319 while it was taxiing to a gate upon arriving at the airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The board launched an investigation on the incident after it sparked concerns that it was a workplace mishap.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office, however, ruled suicide as the manner of death, an office assistant from the medical examiner's office told CNN. It also classified the death under blunt and sharp force injuries.
The board called off its investigation following the medical examiner's findings, according to reports.
Unifi said their "hearts go out to the family of the deceased."
"We remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time," Unifi said. "Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information."
Delta Air Lines also told the media that it was "grieving" the death.
"We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family member's life in San Antonio. Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time," Delta told CNN.
If you know someone who needs emotional support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support.
