Investigators say it is ‘too early to decide if it was suicide’ as witnesses describe ‘hellish noise’ after horrific incident

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A person died at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport when he was sucked into the engine of a KLM passenger plane.

Investigators from the Dutch military police said it was too early to say whether it was an “incident” or some kind of suicide.

Rescue workers launched a “massive” response after the gruesome tragedy was first reported at around 3pm this afternoon. Public broadcaster NOS released a picture showing the plane surrounded by fire engines and ambulances.

According to reports, passengers and crew were on board the Embraer 190 aircraft – which KLM uses for its Cityhopper service to nearby destinations – when the person fell into the rotating turbine blades.

Witnesses told local broadcaster De Telegraaf that there was a “terrible noise” and that shortly afterwards smoke rose from the engine.

Flight 1341 was scheduled to depart from Schiphol, Netherlands, to Billund, Denmark at 14:25 today.

Initial reports did not indicate whether the victim was traveling with the airline or working at the airport.

An insider told Dutch newspaper AD that the incident was “very violent,” adding: “After the plane was pushed back for takeoff, someone walked into the engine.”

A Schiphol spokesperson told MailOnline: “Today there was a terrible incident where a person ended up in an aircraft engine. Our thoughts are with the relatives and we care for the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this.”

The airport confirmed that an investigation was underway led by the Royal Military Police to gather further details on the case.

The Royal Military Police (Koninklijke Marechaussee) said in a statement: “This afternoon an incident occurred on the Schiphol platform in which a person fell into a running aircraft engine and died.”

“All passengers and staff on the flight in question have disembarked and are being cared for,” the statement continued.

The military police said that the passengers who witnessed the incident were being given psychological support. The passengers have now disembarked from the plane.

They pointed out that the passengers could still be “important witnesses” who could help them understand exactly what happened.

No further information is available yet regarding the identity of the person and the causes of the incident.

According to the Dutch daily newspaper De Telegraaf, the engine was running at the time of the incident, suggesting that the plane was preparing for takeoff.

An airport official told the outlet that the plane flew backwards in a “pushback” before taking off.

The airline KLM said in a statement: “Today there was a terrible incident at Schiphol in which a person got caught in a running aircraft engine. Unfortunately, the person died.”

“We are receiving passengers and employees who saw this at Schiphol Airport. The circumstances are currently being investigated.”

“For further information – as it becomes available – please contact the Royal Military Police.”

The airline’s managing director, Marjan Rintel, also wrote on X about the “terrible incident”: “Our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased and all the people who witnessed the accident.”

Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, said on X: “Terrible news about a fatal accident today at Schiphol. My condolences go out to the relatives of the victim and the people who witnessed the accident.”

The Dutch pilots’ union VNV also expressed its condolences for the “tragic incident” in a statement on X: “Our first concern and sympathy goes out to those affected and their families. We offer our cooperation and expertise in investigating the exact cause.”

The Dutch Association of Aviation Technicians (NVLT) also issued a statement saying: “We are pleased with the care that Schiphol Airport and KLM have shown to the passengers and colleagues who witnessed this event.”

Schiphol has strict security measures in place and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which, according to airport figures, handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone.

MailOnline has contacted KLM and Schiphol Airport for comment.