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Baggage handler ‘scalped’ after hair gets caught in conveyer belt
Published 13:35 1 Sept 2022 BST
Homenews
She sadly did not survive the incident
A woman working at an airport in the US has tragically died following a freak accident after she got her hair caught in the conveyer belt of the luggage loader. 26-year-old baggage handler Jermani Thompson was working at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport on Tuesday, August 30, when she managed to get her hair stuck in the mechanism of the conveyer belt system. She was rushed to hospital around 10:20pm but is said to have died shortly after. [caption id="attachment_356620" align="alignnone" width="1200"]
Credit: Facebook[/caption]
Thompson was in the apron - an airplane's parking zone where it also loaded, refuelled, boarded and maintained - unloading people's luggage from a Frontier Airlines plane when the "industrial accident" occurred.
A representative for the airport detailed events to Fox News 8's WVUE-TV and confirmed that her body was identified by Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.
Mike Hough, the chief executive of her employer GAT Airline Ground Support, said in a statement: "We are heartbroken and are supporting her family and her friends as best as we are able."
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Credit: iStock[/caption]
The airport’s director of aviation, Kevin Dolliole went on to say: "Jermani was a part of our Airport family, and we will continue to support one another in any way we can during this trying time."
As for the airline itself, they cancelled a flight later that morning and spokesperson Jennifer de la Cruz said: "We extend our deepest condolences following the tragic death of a team member of our ground handling business partner.
"Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time", as per Nola.com.
