Airline issues statement after person was sucked into plane engine and killed at Amsterdam airport

An airline has issued a statement after a person was sucked into a plane engine and killed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

According to local media, authorities were alerted at around 3.00pm local time this afternoon (29 May) to reports someone had been caught in the engine of a KLM Cityhopper Embraer E190.

It is also reported that passengers and crew members were on board the plane when the tragedy happened, set to fly from Amsterdam to Billund, Denmark.

A Royal Military Police account in the Netherlands wrote on X: “An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.” It added that an investigation has been launched.

The tragic incident happened this afternoon. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Schiphol Airport also confirmed the tragic death on X and described the incident as ‘horrible’.

"Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this,” it wrote.

"The Royal Military Police is currently conducting an investigation."

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the airline which operates the plane involved, shared the following statement: “A fatal incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine.

"Sadly, this person has died. The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund.

“We are currently taking care of the passengers and employees who witnessed the incident at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently under investigation.

"For further information – once available – we refer you to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.”

At present, the identity of the person is not yet confirmed and it is not known whether they were a passenger, crew member or airport staff.

Dutch minister for infrastructure, Mark Harbers, said: "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."

Investigations have been launched at the airport into how this could have happened. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The Marechaussee had confirmed that passengers and crew were on board the KLM flight where someone was sucked into the engine, and that they had been taken off the aircraft in the aftermath of the death.

A trio of investigators from the Dutch Safety Board have been dispatched to the airport to look into the matter.

Any further updates on this story are likely to be provided by the Marechaussee, who have been posting updates about the incident and its aftermath on their social media channels.

At present the known facts are that someone died after they were sucked into a plane engine at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, and those on board the flight were evacuated.