In the aftermath of an accident in which a ramp agent was killed after being ingested into an aircraft engine, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an alert intended to prevent injuries to workers towing aircraft or guiding them to and from their gates.
Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) 23006, issued in late August, informs operators of “the importance of personnel remaining clear of an aircraft in tow until after it has come to a complete stop and chocks are installed.”
The SAFO cited the death of a ramp agent, who had approached an arriving aircraft at the gate while an engine was running for a required engine cool-down. “After stopping the aircraft and setting the parking brake, the captain gave the hand signal to connect the airplane to ground power,” the SAFO said. “However, one ramp agent had already proc…
