Schiphol worker intentionally jumped into aircraft engine to kill himself

The person who died Wednesday afternoon by getting sucked into a running airplane engine was identified as a Schiphol Airport worker who intentionally killed himself. The unnerving incident happened just after 3 p.m., and involved a KLM Cityhopper Embraer 190 aircraft.

"The aircraft had just completed the pushback procedure and was about to taxi to the runway," the Marechaussee said in an update on Thursday evening. "The victim worked at a company at the airport. The Investigation showed that he deliberately climbed into the engine. This is a case of suicide."

No further details about the incident, or the man's motives, will be released by the Marechaussee, the military branch that handles policing duties at Schiphol. The organization noted privacy reasons, and declined further comment "out of compassion for the victim and surviving family."

It involved KLM flight 1341, which was set to depart from Schiphol for Billund, Denmark. The passengers and crew members on the flight were safely escorted off the aircraft, and were provided support services.

At the time, it was not immediately clear if the person who was killed was a private individual, an airline worker, an airport worker, or another individual. The incident brought a response from police, fire fighters, and paramedics, as well as investigators from the Dutch Safety Board and the Labor Inspectorate.

“There was a horrible incident today in which a person ended up in an aircraft engine,” a Schiphol spokesperson told ANP on Wednesday. “Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we are providing assistance for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.”

"Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident," said Mark Harbers, the Minister of Infrastructure, shortly after it happened.