In a bizarre incident at Salt Lake City International Airport on January 1, a man was discovered dead inside an airplane engine after breaching an emergency exit door and climbing into the jet’s engine. The victim, identified as 30-year-old Kyler Efinger from Park City, was found unconscious within an engine mounted on the wing of a commercial aircraft that was loaded with passengers. The aircraft had been situated on a de-icing pad, and its engines were in operation.
According to the Salt Lake City Police Department’s announcement on January 2, Efinger was a ticketed passenger with a boarding pass for a flight to Denver.
The incident was reported by the manager of a store within the airport, who witnessed a passenger passing through an emergency exit just before 10 p.m. The officers discovered Efinger’s clothing, shoes, and personal items on one of the runways. The airport later released footage showing Efinger attempting to access closed doors and emergency exits before making his way onto the runway.
Upon locating Efinger, officers instructed air traffic controllers to inform the pilot to shut down the aircraft’s engines. The specific stage of engine operation during the incident is still under investigation.
First responders removed Efinger from the engine intake cowling, which directs airflow to the engine fan. They attempted life-saving measures, including CPR and administering naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Despite their efforts, Efinger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Salt Lake City police are collaborating with the state medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death, which may involve a toxicology report.
While passengers were removed from the plane when Efinger was discovered, overall airport operations were not disrupted. Initial findings suggest that the man gained access to the airport’s ramp area through an emergency exit and subsequently entered the nearby engine.
As of now, an airport spokesperson has not responded to requests for comment.
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