A subsidiary of American Airlines has been slapped with a $15,000 fine after a ground crew worker, a mum of three, was sucked into the engine of a plane.
Piedmont Airlines was fined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) when Courtney Edwards, 34, was “ingested into the engine” at Montgomery Regional Airport, Alabama, on December 31 last year.
The mum was "on the ramp at Montgomery Regional Airport where American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175, was parked" when the horror incident occurred.
The airline was found responsible for the safety breach that led to Courtney's death.
Her union, the Communication Workers of America, released a statement that said the OSHA ruled Piedmont Airlines "is guilty of a serious breach."
A 'General Duty Clause violation' occurred because "a place of employment which were free from recognised hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees that were exposed to ingestion and jet blast hazards".
Ground crew, the Nation Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held two safety briefings before the plane arrived at the gate.
The aircraft was used to ferry people between the Alabama airport and Falls Fort Worth, Texas.
NTSB's report said surveillance footage showed Ms Edwards walking towards the plane's rear while holding an orange safety cone.
She then disappears from view when the awful incident took place.
An immediate shutdown of the plane occurred as Courtney was sucked into the engine.
A co-pilot reported that the "airplane shook violently followed by the immediate automatic shutdown."
A GoFundMe raised over $120,000, well over its initial goal of $25,000.
“Courtney was a Ground Handling agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, a loving mother of three kids and a wonderful daughter to her beloved mother, Natalie English of Montgomery, Alabama,” the fundraising page read.
"Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends and kids for years to come."
After the incident, American Airlines released a statement: “We are devastated by the accident involving a team member of Piedmont Airlines, an American Airlines regional carrier, at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM).
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members.”
The CWA added: "OSHA also found that the lack of effective training, clear and unambiguous communication on the ramp, and clear instructions from supervisors as to when it is safe to approach an aircraft were deficiencies that contributed to Courtney Edwards's preventable death."