A man tragically lost his life at Salt Lake City International Airport on Monday after breaching a security door and crawling into a passenger jet’s engine. The victim, identified as 30-year-old Kyler Efinger from Park City, was a ticketed passenger scheduled to travel from Salt Lake City to Denver. Airport employees discovered Efinger unconscious inside the engine’s cowling before he was pronounced dead. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The incident unfolded when a manager from one of the airport stores reported a disturbance involving a passenger on the secured side of the terminal. Minutes later, the manager notified authorities that Efinger had left through one of the terminal’s emergency exit doors. Airport employees subsequently found that Efinger had accessed the airport’s ramp area, ran to the south end of a west runway, and crawled into the engine of an aircraft.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Efinger partially inside the intake cowling of one of the aircraft’s wing-mounted engines. Initially, it was reported that the engines were not running, but police later clarified that they were rotating at the time Efinger was found. The plane, a Delta flight bound for San Francisco, was loaded with 95 passengers, three flight attendants, and two pilots. Although the incident caused the flight to be canceled, Delta promptly rebooked the passengers on alternative flights.
While the investigation is ongoing, authorities confirmed that the incident did not impact the overall operation of the airport. In a statement, Delta emphasized its commitment to customer safety and cooperation with all aviation authority and law enforcement investigations.
The tragic death of Kyler Efinger serves as a stark reminder of the importance of airport security and the potential dangers that can arise when individuals breach restricted areas. As authorities delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this incident, the entire aviation industry is urged to assess and bolster security measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
