Man found dead inside Delta Air Lines’ plane engine

An aircraft from Delta Air Lines. Photo from Delta Air Lines’ Instagram

The deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Kyler Efinger from Park City, the U.S., according to the New York Post.

Efinger, holding a boarding pass for Denver, reportedly caused a disturbance at the airport on the evening of Jan. 1 as he breached an emergency exit and ran onto the airfield. His motivation remains unknown, according to CBS News.

After Efinger’s personal belongings, including his clothes and shoes, were found on a runway, Salt Lake City police and airport personnel suspected he was beneath the Delta aircraft, which was in the process of de-icing. They swiftly notified air traffic control to power down the engines.

Efinger was subsequently located unresponsive within the wing-mounted engine of the plane. It was established that the engine’s fans were operational at that time.

Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Efinger was declared deceased at the scene.

Following the incident, the plane returned to the gate. All 95 passengers on board were rebooked on alternative flights.

The case remains under further investigation.