Horror 5-word instruction to plane passengers after trespasser dies sucked into engine

Passengers on board a flight that was preparing for takeoff when a man reportedly ran towards the plane and was killed by being sucked into a jet engine have opened up about the horrific experience, and a chilling warning they were given. The incident occured on the runway at Milan Bergamo Il Caravaggio International Airport in Italy on Tuesday morning.

Italian media have since identified the man as 35-year-old Andrea Russo, a builder from Calcinate. Initial reports suggested Russo may have sought to take his own life, though investigations into what happened continue.

The flight had been about to set off for Asturias, in northwest Spain, when the tragedy took place.

Carmen Garcia, a Spanish passenger on the Volotea flight, told daily newspaper La Nueva España they had been warned it was "best not to look out" afterward.

She said the aircraft was "about to take off with the engines on" when "a person came running towards us".

Ms Garcia says they suddently "heard a noise and a bang" and some people "saw something through the window and put their hands to their heads".

"They told us it was best not to look out, because what was happening was very unpleasant." Then the fire brigade, ambulances and police started to arrive."

Daniel Isla, a Chilean national told the outlet that he didn't see it happen "but heard a tremendous noise in the engine turbine".

"We didn't know what had happened at first but then the pilot came out and told us a tragedy had occurred and there'd been a terrible accident and someone had been sucked into the engine," he told the newspaper.

"It was a feeling of incredulity initially because we couldn't believe what had happened. We wanted to think it was something else until we realised it was true."

A spokesperson for Volotea said: "A person, who was not a passenger or airport personnel, trespassed onto the runway while the aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Sadly, the person was struck by the engine and has passed away. The airline deeply regrets this tragic incident and extends its condolences to the family of the person involved.

"All 154 passengers on board, along with the 6 Volotea crew members, are physically safe. Passengers were promptly deboarded and taken to a designated area, where provisions were made available.

"Psychological support was also offered to both passengers and crew members. The affected passengers were rebooked on another Volotea flight that departed at 16:43h local time and landed in Asturias at 18:50h local time.

"The airline also deployed additional staff at Asturias Airport to receive passengers and provide support upon arrival. Volotea has fully cooperated with local authorities and Milan-Bergamo Airport throughout the investigation.

"The airline would like to express its gratitude to its crew for their swift response and support of passengers, as well as to its passengers for their cooperation during this difficult situation. The safety and well-being of Volotea's passengers, crew, and airport partners is the airline's top priority. The airline expresses its condolences once again to all those affected by this incident."

Giovanni Sanga, CEO of SACBO, which which operates Milan Bergamo Airport offered his "personal condolences" to the victim's family, and said the "exact dynamics of the incident are being examined by the judicial authorities to whom SACBO (The Bergamo Milan airport authority) continues to provide all the necessary collaboration".

"The company, in coordination with the relevant bodies, immediately activated emergency procedures and assistance to the flight passengers, crew and ground personnel involved, also making psychological support services available," he added as per The Mirror.

Local prosecutor Maurizio Romanelli told the media: "We are investigating about possible relationships with the airport or the world of planes.

"In the car with which he arrived at the airport, heaps of all kinds of material were found but we couldn't find anything that could give any kind of explanation", he added.

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