Andrea Russo, 35, horrified onlookers at Milan Bergamo Airport after he threw himself into the blades of a plane engine – airport employees were seen holding their heads in shock
Photos have captured the chilling moment a man ran past airport employees before throwing himself into a plane engine.
Andrea Russo, 35, from Calcinate, near Bergamo, Italy, entered Milan Bergamo Airport after abandoning his ref Fiat 500 car on Tuesday morning. He arrived at the airport without a ticket and raced into a restricted area leading to the runway before Border Police tried to stop him. But Russo managed to evade officers and made his way onto the tarmac before “throwing himself into one of the two turbofans” of the Volotea Airbus A319 flight V73511 from Milan to Asturias, in Spain. New footage captured the moment Russo was jogging toward the plane and as he jumping towards the port side engine.
He then leaped into the engine’s blades with airport employees on the runway holding their heads in horror. Russo’s body fell lifeless to the floor shortly afterward. The Mirror has chosen not to show this footage due to the graphic nature.
A Spanish passenger on board the plane at the time told La Nueva España said: “Suddenly, we heard a noise and a bang. Some people saw something through the window and put their hands to their heads. They told us it was best not to look out, because what was happening was very unpleasant.”
The woman, from Asturias, said the plane was preparing to take-off. She added: “We don’t know exactly what happened.” The pilot later addressed passengers in a “shaken” voice and told them there had been a “very serious problem involving a person.”
Officers arrived at the scene to carry out an investigation of the site. Sources told local outlets said Russo had a history of “drug problems.” A witness told Italian outlet La Repubblica that a man ran toward the aircraft.
He added: “I wasn’t on that plane, I was boarding another plane next to it and we saw everything. He ran towards the right side. The he ran and [was] sucked by the left side motor. I can’t describe it as pleasant.”
A statement shared to X/Twitter by Volotea said: “We regret to confirm flight V73511 from BGY-OVD was involved in an incident at Milan-Bergamo Airport at 10:35h. One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and 6 crew are safe. A new flight is scheduled for 15:55.”
The incident caused on flight to be diverted to Bologna with two others being sent to Verona and another six redirected to Milan Malpensa. In an earlier updated posted to X, the Lombardy Airports Association wrote: “Traffic to and from #orio #Bgy is suspended due to a serious issue on the apron. Possible delays, diversions, and cancellations throughout the morning. Updates will follow.”
In response to the incident, Giovanni Sanga, CEO of the group which operated Milan Bergamo Airport, expressed his “personal condolences” to the man’s family. He added that the man actively “approached the aircraft of a scheduled flight” in the harrowing final moments before his death.
Mr Sanga said: “The dramatic event has shocked the entire airport community. First of all, I would like to express my personal condolences and those of the company to the victim’s family, to whom we are close in this terrible moment.”
Mr Sanga added: “From the very beginning, in addition to ensuring the immediate management of the emergency and assistance to passengers and crew, we turned our attention to the colleagues who witnessed the episode and were deeply affected by it.
“At 10:35am on July 8, at Milan Bergamo airport, a person, neither a passenger nor an employee of companies operating at the airport, despite the prompt counteraction of the police forces present, managed to enter the aircraft apron, then reaching the taxiway. Here he approached the aircraft of a scheduled flight, stationary and with its engines running, losing his life.
“The exact dynamics of the incident are being examined by the judicial authorities to whom SACBO (The Bergamo Milan airport authority) continues to provide all the necessary collaboration. The company, in coordination with the relevant bodies, immediately activated emergency procedures and assistance to the flight passengers, crew and ground personnel involved, also making psychological support services available.”