What happened
On December 31, 2022, an Embraer 170-200 LR, registration N264NN, was involved in a fatal ground accident at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) in Montgomery, Alabama. The aircraft, operated by Envoy Air, had arrived from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport as a scheduled domestic flight. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was parked at the gate with its No. 1 (left) engine still running due to an inoperative auxiliary power unit.
While the aircraft was being serviced, a ramp agent approached the area in front of the operating left engine. Surveillance video showed the agent walking alongside the leading edge of the left wing toward the fuselage. As the agent moved, her torso and subsequently her leg entered the engine inlet, resulting in 1 fatality.
The flight crew reported that while shutting down the No. 2 (right) engine, they observed a cargo door alert and noticed the airplane shake violently before the No. 1 engine shut down. The crew subsequently discovered that a ramp agent had been ingested into the engine. The 63 passengers and crew on board were not injured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the training and procedures of the ground crew, the medical history of the deceased, and toxicology results. The lead ramp agent reported that a safety briefing and a subsequent "huddle" had been conducted approximately 10 minutes before the aircraft arrived, specifically instructing personnel not to approach the aircraft until the engines were shut down and the red beacon lights were extinguished.
Toxicology testing of the deceased revealed the presence of delta-9-THC and its metabolites, indicating recent cannabis use. The investigation also noted the agent's medical history of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and diabetes. While the aircraft's red beacon lights were illuminated during the event, the investigation found that the agent's training and the operator's procedures were not primary factors, as the agent's actions were inconsistent with her established safety training.
Findings
- The accident ramp agent's actions were inconsistent with her training and the safety briefings provided prior to the aircraft's arrival.
- The agent's movement placed her in the engine ingestion zone while the No. 1 engine was still operating.
- Multiple cues, including the illuminated red beacon lights and the sound of the engine, were present to indicate the engine was running.
- The investigation determined that the agent's behavior demonstrated deficient judgment, likely due to cognitive impairment related to identified medical and toxicological risk factors.
- The position of ramp personnel is not classified as safety-sensitive by the Department of Transportation, meaning they are not subject to mandatory federal drug and alcohol testing.