A 35-year-old man lost his life after forcibly entering Milan Bergamo Airport in northern Italy and being sucked into the engine of a Volotea Airlines Airbus A319 as the plane was preparing for takeoff to Asturias, Spain. The man, identified by Italian media as Andrea Russo, reportedly broke into the airport by driving the wrong way down a road, abandoning his car, and then running through the terminal’s arrivals area before breaching a security door that led directly onto the runway.
Airport officials and witnesses reported that despite attempts by two border police officers to stop him, Russo ran towards the aircraft, which was taxiing on the runway. He either threw himself into or was pulled into the plane’s engine, dying instantly at the scene. He was neither a passenger nor an airport employee, and local reports suggest he may have been struggling with personal issues, including being a recovering addict trying to rebuild his life.
The incident caused a suspension of all flight operations at the airport from about 10:20 a.m. to noon local time, affecting dozens of flights. Volotea confirmed that all 154 passengers and six crew members aboard the flight were safe and are receiving psychological support following the traumatic event. The airline expressed regret over the incident and pledged full cooperation with Italian authorities investigating the case.
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into how the man accessed the runway, with airport security protocols under scrutiny. The tragedy has raised concerns about airport security and mental health support, highlighting the need for vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future.
