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American Airlines ground crew member killed at Alabama airport

(NewsNation) — New details reveal that an airline employee who was killed on New Year’s Eve at Montgomery Regional Airport was sucked into the plane’s engine while it was parked.

The worker was reportedly on the ramp of the parked regional carrier flight — which had just come from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas — at the time of the incident.

“We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines, said Wade A. Davis, executive director of Montgomery Regional Airport. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.”

The FAA and NTSB are now investigating the incident.

Normal operations have since resumed, but all flights were grounded until about 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

The deceased employee has not yet been named.