Italian media reported that the victim, a 35-year-old man whose identity has not been officially released, abandoned his vehicle in a nearby parking lot before forcing his way through a restricted access point. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the man crossing the tarmac at high speed as ground crews were preparing a Volotea Airbus A319 for departure.
The aircraft, preparing for Flight V7‑3511 bound for Asturias, Spain, was in the process of being pushed back from the gate when the man approached it undetected. According to sources familiar with the investigation, he was drawn into the engine intake during this critical phase of pre-takeoff operations. Emergency services responded immediately but were unable to save him.
The airport was closed shortly after 10:20 a.m. local time, grounding departing flights and diverting incoming ones to nearby Milan Malpensa, Bologna, and Verona. Operations resumed after nearly two hours, but not before nearly 20 flights were affected, highlighting the disruption caused by the event.
Authorities have yet to determine the man’s motive. While some early reports pointed to the possibility of suicide, officials emphasized that investigations are still in the early stages. Security officials are analyzing CCTV footage and reviewing how the man managed to reach an active runway area, bypassing the airport’s multiple security layers.
Volotea, the airline operating the flight, expressed condolences to the victim’s family and announced it would offer psychological support to passengers and crew. All 154 passengers and six crew members on board were unharmed but faced considerable delays. The flight was later rescheduled with a different aircraft.
Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport, northeast of Milan, is Italy’s third-busiest airport by passenger volume, handling more than 17 million travelers annually. It serves as a key hub for low-cost carriers including Ryanair and Volotea. The airport’s management described the accident as “deeply regrettable” and pledged full cooperation with the authorities.
Aviation security experts have raised concerns about how such a breach could occur in a highly regulated environment. The fact that an unauthorized individual was able to access the runway and reach an operating aircraft without intervention suggests possible flaws in both perimeter surveillance and ground staff communication protocols.
The incident also reignited broader conversations in Italy about mental health support and crisis intervention. Public safety advocates called for greater vigilance and preventative measures to protect both airport personnel and vulnerable individuals who might find themselves in distress.
As of Tuesday evening, law enforcement officials continued to piece together the man’s movements leading up to the incident. An autopsy has been ordered, and toxicology reports are pending.
This tragedy, rare in both its nature and location, has left many in Italy’s aviation community reflecting on the delicate balance between safety, security, and humanity in one of the world’s most regulated environments.
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