Family Sues Salt Lake City Airport Over Fatal Jet Engine Incident
The family of a man who died after crawling into a jet engine at Salt Lake City International Airport has filed a lawsuit against Salt Lake City, alleging that airport officials failed to take proper precautions and did not alert air traffic control that he was on the tarmac.
The lawsuit, filed by Judd and Lisa Efinger, centers on the death of their son, Kyler Efinger, a 30-year-old Park City resident who died on Jan. 1, 2024. According to the legal filing, Kyler experienced a manic episode, left the secure terminal area, accessed the airport’s ramp, and ultimately climbed into the engine cowling of a taxiing aircraft.
The Efingers allege that airport systems and personnel failed at multiple critical points, allowing Kyler to access restricted areas and delaying an effective search. Most significantly, the lawsuit claims that neither air traffic controllers nor pilots were properly informed that a disoriented individual was moving on the tarmac while aircraft were actively taxiing.
According to the filing, Kyler passed through security at approximately 8:50 p.m. and was scheduled to fly to Denver to visit a sick grandparent. About 10 minutes later, he began exhibiting erratic behavior and left his departure gate. Surveillance footage cited in the lawsuit shows Kyler running on moving walkways, interrupting foot traffic, and behaving unusually in a Utah Jazz retail store inside the terminal.
At around 9:54 p.m., after attempting to open multiple locked doors, Kyler exited through an emergency door that led directly to the airport’s outdoor ramp area. The lawsuit argues that the airport lacked adequate safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to the tarmac and failed to immediately identify which emergency exit had been opened.
Police initially searched incorrect areas due to what the lawsuit describes as flawed and delayed information. At 10:04 p.m., a pilot reported seeing Kyler near a runway. Minutes later, Kyler ran toward an Airbus A220-100 that had just begun taxiing away from a deicing pad under air traffic control instructions.
The Efingers allege that aircraft should have been ordered to hold position during the search, and that controllers and pilots were not adequately warned that a person was on the airfield. Kyler reportedly climbed into the engine cowling while the engine was running, suffering fatal blunt force trauma.
The lawsuit claims that if Kyler had been located just 30 seconds earlier, he would still be alive. The family is seeking a jury trial to determine damages, arguing the city failed to maintain safe and secure airport premises. Salt Lake City has declined to comment due to the pending litigation.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, sltrib.com