Nationwide — Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old mother of three from Montgomery, Alabama, reportedly died after being sucked into the engine of a passenger plane while working at Montgomery Regional Airport.
The report indicated that the aircraft involved in the incident had an inoperative auxiliary power and the captain alerted that it would be connected to ground power as both engines are left running “for the required two-minute engine cool-down period.”
Prior to that, 2 safety meetings were held before the plane arrived to remind the crew that the aircraft engine should not be approached while it continues running. However, the report stated several safety protocols were not followed, resulting in the accident.
Edwards was reportedly captured on surveillance video apparently walking toward the back of the airplane with an orange safety cone. At one point, she disappeared from view. Then the tragedy happened, she was pulled off her feet and into the engine.
Edwards is survived by 3 children and her mother. She is remembered as a loving mother and a wonderful daughter.
“Losing Courtney was a terrible tragedy and her leaving behind 3 beautiful children to grow up without a mother is just disheartening to us all,” Donielle Prophete, the president of the Communication Workers of America Local 3645, told Fox Business.
Richard Honeycutt, vice president of CWA District 3 and chair of CWA’s Passenger Service Airline Council, said in a statement that Edwards “represents the very best of our CWA airport members, who constantly make sacrifices to serve the flying public. Her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of her fellow CWA members and those closest to her.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover her funeral expenses and child care since the accident. It has so far raised more than $100,000, surpassing its $25,000 goal.