An unfortunate tragedy occurred on New Year’s Eve when a mother of three died on the job.
According to Atlanta Black Star, 34-year-old Courtney Edwards, a ground-handling agent for Piedmont Airlines, a branch of American Airlines, walked near a parked Embraer E175 American Airlines plane when she was “ingested into the engine.”
“This is most unfortunate, and the first case I’ve heard of where a civilian was ingested by an A/C engine. It happens in the military. But it is unfortunate for anyone who is pulled into an engine even if they survive it. My condolences and prayers go out to her family,” wrote John McKnight, a contributor to a GoFundMe campaign for Edwards set up by the Communication Workers of America Local 3645 Union.
An investigation is underway as the Federal Aviation Administration works to determine how the engine sucked Edwards in, hoping to have more details in the coming weeks.
Richard Honeycutt, the vice president of CWA District 3 and chair of CWA’s Passenger Service Airline Council, shared his thoughts about this “terrible tragedy” via the Union’s website on Thursday:
“Courtney was a valued member of her team and our union. She was away from her family working on New Year’s Eve making sure passengers got to where they needed to be for the holidays. She represents the very best of our CWA airport members, who constantly make sacrifices to serve the flying public,” Honeycutt wrote.
He continued, “Her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of her fellow CWA members and those closest to her.”
