[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

Yeah, that's likely what happened. I don't know if the plane had just taxied in and parked, but that's the most likely place for it to happen. Generally, once the parking brake is set, the engines are cut off, as long as the plane has a working APU (Aux Power Unit). If it doesn't then the plane leaves an engine running until the ground power can be plugged in. If both the ground power and the APU are broken then you can leave an engine running, but it means multiple extra safety layers are put in place as a result.

Visually, the airplane leaves the beacon (the red flasher at the top and bottom) on to signal either an engine is running or about to be run and it's a signal to the ramp to not approach the plane. But things happen, and signals get missed, and people have expectations bias for what they expect to happen and then accidents happen.

The main tires are also chocked to prevent the plane from moving on the ground as well, so if someone approached the plane and assumed something that didn't happen they could have, but even then, you approach from behind the wing.

The engines, at idle, have a 6 ft danger zone in front where people can be sucked in just walking past. So it's no shit scary if they are running. I can't imagine how bad this was. It was complete and total chaos and fear I'm sure.

Airport Worker Sucked Into Jet Engine Was Repeatedly Warned to Stand Back

the Embraer’s auxiliary power unit (APU) was inoperative during the flight.

“The ground crew reported that a safety briefing was held about 10 minutes before the airplane arrived at the gate. A second safety “huddle” was held shortly before the airplane arrived at the gate, to reiterate that the engines would remain running until ground power was connected. It was also discussed that the airplane should not be approached, and the diamond of safety cones should not be set until the engines were off, spooled down, and the airplane’s rotating beacon light had been extinguished by the flight crew.”

The rest is rather gruesome.