DVA2411
First Officer, B777-200
Joined on June 22 2005
Everett 250 Club
Eurocap Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Six Century Club
"Semper Volans" Clayton, NC
653 legs, 1,795.5 hours
92 legs,
203.6 hours online 581 legs,
1,640.8 hours ACARS 6 legs,
22.7 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
January 16 2006 19:03 ET by John Richardson
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Mechanic sucked into jet engine
Fatal accident occurred as aircraft prepared to fly to Houston
(CNN) -- A mechanic standing near a Boeing 737 at El Paso International Airport in Texas was sucked into one of the engines and killed Monday, officials said.
Continental Airlines Flight 1515 was preparing to take off for Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston when "a maintenance-related engine run-up of the right-hand engine" was carried out, said Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration's southwest region in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
"Someone on the ground was sucked into the engine," he said.
In a written statement, Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner said the person killed was a mechanic who worked for one of the airline's suppliers.
"My fellow coworkers and I extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the mechanic involved in this tragic event," Kellner said.
The 737-500 was carrying 114 passengers and five crew members at the time of the accident, he said.
"Continental is coordinating assistance for passengers who need help dealing with this tragedy," Kellner said. "Continental's Employee Assistance Program team is also flying to El Paso to meet with employees."
He said the incident occurred during a maintenance check in preparation for the plane's departure.
A spokeswoman for Boeing said Monday's incident is not the first such accident. "It doesn't happen very often," spokeswoman Liz Verdier said. "It has happened in the past."
Either way, she said, the responsibility lies with Continental: "The airlines are responsible for their safety procedures."
The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators from its office in Denver, Colorado,Herwig said.
John RichardsonFirst Officer, B777-200
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DVA1933
Senior Captain, B727-200
Joined on September 19 2004
Triple Century Club
Monterrey, NL Mexico
357 legs, 860.4 hours
72 legs,
132.3 hours online 255 legs,
668.3 hours ACARS 1 legs,
1.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
January 16 2006 19:18 ET by David Eugenio Gomez
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DVA2783
Captain, MD-88
Joined on December 31 2005
Lilburn, GA USA
18 legs, 24.9 hours
18 legs,
24.9 hours online
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Posted onPost created on
January 19 2006 02:03 ET by Richard Gallaher
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