Engineer seriously injured after falling from Jet2 plane bound for Tenerife
An aircraft engineer was seriously injured on Saturday morning (11th April) after falling from a Jet2 plane at Manchester Airport shortly before it was due to depart for Tenerife.
The incident happened while the aircraft was on the ground preparing for departure. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 8:20am after reports that a man had fallen from around 10 metres onto the tarmac below.
The worker, believed to be in his 60s and employed by a third-party contractor, fell from the rear door of the aircraft. Early reports suggest he may have opened the door expecting stairs to be in place, but instead stepped into thin air.
He suffered multiple serious injuries, including fractures to his arms and legs, and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital for further care.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that strong winds at the time may also have contributed to the fall, with suggestions the engineer lost his balance as the aircraft door was opened. The aircraft involved had been scheduled to fly to Tenerife, but the incident occurred before any passengers boarded.
Jet2 confirmed that the injured man was not a direct employee of the airline but worked for an external provider. The company has launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Aviation safety investigators are now expected to examine procedures on the ground, including communication between crews and the positioning of boarding equipment, to determine how the fall occurred.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, airport operations continued with minimal disruption, although the affected area was temporarily sealed off while emergency teams responded.
The accident has once again highlighted the risks faced by ground staff working around aircraft, particularly in busy airport environments where coordination and safety checks are critical.
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