Man dies after running onto runway and being pulled into jet engine at Milan airport
Italian investigators probe fatal runway breach as flight to Spain is delayed and airport staff left reeling
A 35-year-old man died after entering a restricted runway area and being pulled into a jet engine at Milan Bergamo Airport, grounding flights and triggering an urgent investigation. The victim was neither a passenger nor an airport worker, and authorities are exploring the possibility of suicide.
On the morning of July 8, a tragic accident brought operations at Milan Bergamo Airport to a standstill. A man, described as 35 years old and Italian, accessed the runway without authorization and was fatally pulled into the engine of a Volotea Airbus A319 as it prepared for departure to Oviedo, Spain.
The incident occurred around 10:35 a.m. local time, during the aircraft’s pushback maneuver. Emergency responders and police were quickly on the scene, but the man died instantly. Authorities say the aircraft’s engines, which can spin at up to 15,000 rotations per minute, made survival impossible.
The airport temporarily suspended all operations until noon, delaying or diverting at least 19 flights.
How did the man get onto the tarmac?
According to local reports, the man arrived at the airport in a red Fiat 500 and appeared to take a wrong turn near a roundabout. After abruptly stopping the car, he ran toward the terminal, forced open a security door in the arrivals area, and gained access to the runway.
An officer who had noticed the man acting erratically gave chase, but was unable to stop him before he reached the moving aircraft.
Italian news agency ANSA reported that investigators are looking into whether the man intended to take his own life. He was not affiliated with the airport or the airline.
We regret to confirm flight V73511 from BGY-OVD was involved in an incident at Milan-Bergamo Airport at 10:35h. One person not onboard and not affiliated with the company was seriously injured. All 154 passengers and 6 crew are safe. A new flight is scheduled for 15:55.
Ad— Volotea (@volotea) July 8, 2025
Airline and airport response
Volotea Airlines confirmed the incident and stated that none of its passengers or crew were harmed. “All 154 passengers and 6 crew are safe,” the airline posted on X, formerly Twitter. A replacement flight was scheduled for later in the day.
The airport’s managing company, Sacbo, said the event took place on the taxiway and is now under investigation by local police and Italy’s civil aviation authority. Specialists from Bergamo’s Scientific Unit are working to piece together the timeline and how such a serious breach occurred.
Psychological support is being offered to passengers, flight crew, and airport staff who witnessed the event. Authorities say full cooperation is being given by both the airport and the airline.
The investigation continues into how the man bypassed multiple layers of airport security and what may have driven him to enter the runway.
