A fatal accident occurred on July 8 at Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), when a man was pulled into the engine of a Volotea Airbus A319 just before its scheduled departure. The event led to a temporary suspension of airport operations and triggered multiple flight disruptions across the region.
📌 Key Takeaways
- A trespasser died after being pulled into a Volotea A319 engine at Milan Bergamo Airport.
- The incident occurred just before departure to Asturias, forcing a temporary suspension of flight operations.
- Over 20 flights were canceled or diverted, with regional airports absorbing the overflow.
- Authorities are investigating the breach and reviewing airport security protocols.
Emergency Closure and Immediate Response
Operations were halted at 10:20 local time (UTC+2) following the incident on the taxiway. The airport resumed limited activity at 12:00, after emergency services responded and police launched an investigation. According to Volotea, the incident involved flight V7 3924 bound for Asturias Airport (OVD) and occurred after all passengers had boarded and the aircraft was ready for departure.
“We are aware of a serious incident involving the aircraft’s engine. We are working with authorities and will provide updates soon,” the airline stated.
Disruptions like this- even if caused by security emergencies- can still result in compensable delays depending on the airline’s response. Learn more about your air passenger rights.
Victim Identified as Trespasser
Local media, including Corriere della Sera and RAI, reported that the victim was a man in his mid-30s who had illegally entered the airport premises. He ran across restricted zones and approached the aircraft, which had just pushed back from the gate. Moments later, he was fatally ingested into the left engine of the Airbus A319 (registration EC-MTF).
Unofficial accounts suggest the man may have been fleeing from law enforcement. A passenger onboard shared on Reddit that the captain was visibly shaken and noted the man appeared to be running from someone. Emergency personnel responded rapidly, and passengers disembarked via the front right emergency exit.
Regional Flight Disruptions and Diversions
The accident caused widespread delays and cancellations. At least 13 departing and 9 arriving flights were canceled according to Flightradar24. Additionally, eight flights were diverted to nearby airports, such as Milan Malpensa (MXP), Bologna (BLQ), and Verona (VRN).
Among the affected carriers:
- Ryanair diverted several aircraft, including one Buzz-operated Boeing 737-800, which later repositioned back to Bergamo.
- Three Ryanair aircraft continued to Alghero, Porto, and Tirana after diversion.
- An AJet 737-800, part of Turkish Airlines’ low-cost fleet, was also diverted and returned to Bergamo in the afternoon.
Unlike the original report, this summary condenses the list of aircraft without losing critical detail, allowing for a cleaner flow while still maintaining transparency and traceability of operational impact.
These types of sudden reroutes and cancellations often leave travelers uncertain about their options. If your flight was delayed or canceled unexpectedly, you may be entitled to flight delay compensation under EU261.
Security Investigation Underway
Authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine how the trespasser gained access to the airfield and reached an active aircraft. Airport officials have pledged full cooperation with police and aviation safety regulators. The focus is now on tightening perimeter security and ensuring similar breaches do not happen again. While this incident is being treated as extraordinary, affected passengers whose flights were canceled last-minute may still be able to claim a flight cancellation refund, depending on circumstances.
