Aircraft engineer dies after being sucked into engine at New Zealand airport

2011-08-08 22:57:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

BLENHEIM, NEW ZEALAND (BNO NEWS) -- Police in New Zealand are investigating the death of an aircraft engineer who was sucked into a plane's engine on early Monday morning, officials said on Tuesday.

The accident happened just after 8 a.m. local time on Monday when a 51-year-old man was working at a Safe Air aircraft engine testing facility at Woodbourne Air Field, which is located near Blenheim on the South Island of New Zealand. Safe Air is a subsidiary of Air New Zealand.

According to Air New Zealand, the Rolls Royce C-130 Hercules turboprop engine was being tested without its propellers on when the engineer reportedly entered the testing enclosure and was sucked into the engine.

Tasman Police Acting District Commander Steve Caldwell said emergency services performed CPR on the victim but their attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. "Police are investigating this death on behalf of Coroner who will determine the cause of death in due course," Caldwell said.

The acting district command said police are also assisting an Occupational Safety and Health Investigation as the death occurred during the engineer's work. He identified the victim as Miles Hunter of Blenheim.

The Marlborough Express newspaper reported that the engine will be dismantled to recover parts of the body.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-08

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