THE airport trespasser who was fatally sucked into a jet engine reportedly managed to reach the aircraft in a matter of seconds.
The unidentified 35-year-old Italian reportedly bypassed multiple layers of protection before reaching a moving plane at Milan Bergamo Airport.
Tuesday’s horror incident has since raised questions about how the man was able to even reach the tarmac at one of Italy’s busiest airports.
It was reported that the man drove into the airport incorrectly, left his car near the terminal, and quickly forced his way through a ground-level security door, all while being pursued by police.
The door leads directly from the arrivals hall to the aircraft parking area — a supposedly high-security zone.
Allegedly, he accessed the arrivals area on the terminal’s ground floor, went through a door reserved for authorized staff, and entered the operational airside zone without an effective security response intervening in time, according to a report by Il Fatto Quotidiano.
A police officer reportedly spotted him and gave chase, but the man still managed to run across the tarmac and make it to a Volotea Airbus A319 just as it was beginning its pushback procedure.
The aircraft, preparing to depart for Asturias, Spain, was said to be already in motion when the man got close and was fatally sucked into the engine.
The trespasser, who was neither a passenger nor an airport employee, had no association with the airline, according to Volotea.
Sources familiar with airport operations said the man’s path through restricted areas was both rapid and shocking, La Voce del Patriota reported.
The Italian outlet added that the episode has since raised questions about the security measures adopted at Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio.
Authorities are now facing scrutiny over how the man was able to breach such a sensitive area so quickly — especially at one of Italy’s busiest travel hubs, known for its tight protocols.
Italy’s third busiest airport, Orio al Serio is equipped with layers of checks, barriers, and surveillance.
Yet, the man allegedly bypassed them all, on foot, in broad daylight, and under pursuit.
Aviation authorities and police are now under pressure to explain how someone with no clearance managed to access the runway so quickly — and why intervention came too late.
According to La voce del Patriota, investigators are working on the possibility that the man’s actions were deliberate and premeditated.
“The most accredited hypothesis, although still under consideration, is that of a voluntary act, a premeditated suicide,” sources told the Italian outlet.
All flight operations at Orio al Serio were suspended from 10.20am to 12pm – with numerous flights cancelled, delayed and diverted.
By 11.50am local time, a total of nine flights had already been diverted – one to Bologna, two to Verona, and six rerouted to Milan Malpensa.
Ryanair flights departing for Crotone, Katowice, Prague, Zadar, Tirana, Kos, Malta, Naples, Porto, Alghero, Dusseldorf (Eurowings) were among the many cancellations, reports Milano Today.
Air traffic resumed at 12pm local time, according to airport operator SACBO.
Milano Bergamo is ranked as Italy’s third busiest airport, having handled as many as 17.4 million passengers last year.
A significant portion of its traffic is driven by budget airline Ryanair.
Together with Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa, it is a part of the Milan airport system, which is the biggest in Italy in terms of passenger volume.
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
