Milan, Italy — A tragic and deeply unsettling event unfolded Tuesday morning at Milan’s Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, leaving authorities and the public grappling with serious concerns about airside security and mental health awareness. The victim, a man whose identity has not been released, lost his life in a disturbing accident involving a commercial aircraft.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:20 AM local time, causing an immediate suspension of airport operations. According to airport officials, the man breached restricted airport grounds, gaining access to an active runway area. His presence went unnoticed until he was seen approaching an Airbus A319 aircraft operated by Spanish budget airline Volotea, which was taxiing in preparation for departure.
Eyewitnesses described the man making deliberate movements toward the aircraft. First, he attempted to climb onto the aircraft’s right-hand engine. Security footage, which authorities have chosen not to release publicly due to its graphic nature, reportedly shows him then moving quickly toward the nose landing gear area before ultimately making contact with the aircraft’s left-hand engine.
The left-hand engine was still active at the time of the incident. Despite immediate emergency response, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Airport medical teams and first responders arrived within minutes but were unable to intervene in time to save him. The scene was secured by airport security forces while flights were temporarily halted or diverted to allow investigation and clean-up operations.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the man was an airport employee, passenger, or an outside individual with no official access to secure airport zones. Italian police, along with aviation authorities, are currently conducting a full investigation to determine how the security breach occurred. Investigators are also considering whether mental health factors may have played a role in this incident.
Operations at Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport resumed several hours later, but the atmosphere remained somber as passengers and staff processed the gravity of what had taken place. The affected aircraft was taken out of service for inspection and further review.
Aviation safety experts are calling for a review of airside security protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Officials emphasized the importance of balancing efficient airport operations with maintaining strict perimeter controls and enhancing mental health support services for both staff and the wider community.
