Person is killed after being sucked into KLM passenger airplane engine

A person has been killed after being sucked into a KLM passenger plane engine at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

Investigators from the Dutch military police, Marechaussee, have said that is was too early to say whether this was an ‘incident’, or a form of suicide.

Emergency crews carried out a ‘massive’ response after the horror tragedy was first reported around 3pm this afternoon, with a picture posted on the NOS public broadcaster showing the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances.

Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft – which KLM uses for their Cityhopper service to nearby destinations – when the person fell into the spinning turbine blades.

Flight 1341 was set to depart from Schiphol in the Netherlands for Billund in Denmark at 2.25pm today.

It was unclear from initial reports whether the victim was travelling with the airline or worked at the airport.

Emergency crews carried out a ‘massive’ response after the horror tragedy was first reported around 3pm this afternoon

Passengers and crew members were reported to be on board the Embraer 190 aircraft when the incident occurred

‘Today there was a horrible incident where a person ended up in an airplane engine,’ the official Schiphol account posted on X this afternoon.

‘Our thoughts go out to the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.’

The airport confirmed an investigation was underway to gather more details on the case, led by the Royal Military Police. 

The ‘Koninklijke Marechaussee’ Royal Military Police said in a statement: ‘An incident occurred this afternoon on the Schiphol platform where a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.’

‘All passengers and employees of the flight in question have disembarked and are being taken care of,’ the statement added.

Psychological support will be provided for the passengers witness to the incident, military police said. 

They noted that the passengers may still be ‘important witnesses’ in helping them understand exactly what happened. 

Images from the scene showed the KLM plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances. 

Illustrative image. A KLM Boeing 747 takes off from the runway at Schiphol, Amsterdam

File photo. KLM aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Schipol airport near Amsterdam in 2015

Details remain scarce on the identity of the person and what caused the incident to unfold.

The engine was running at the time of the incident, suggesting the plane was preparing to take-off, according to Dutch daily De Telegraaf.

An airport employee told the outlet the plane was reversing in a ‘pushback’ before taking off.

Airline KLM said in a statement: ‘Today there was a horrible incident at Schiphol in which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly the person has died.

‘We receive passengers and employees who have seen this at Schiphol. The circumstances are currently being investigated.

‘For further information – as soon as available – we refer to the Royal Military Police.’

Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said on X: ‘Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. 

‘My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.’

Safety and security measures are strict at Schiphol and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone, according to airport figures.

MailOnline has contacted KLM and Schiphol Airport for comment.