The Tragic Silence of a Jet Engine: How a Routine Day Turned Into a Nightmare at Montgomery Airport

It was supposed to be just another shift. A routine day for a ramp agent, performing the jobs thousands of ground crew workers do every day across the United States. But on December 31st, 2022, at Montgomery Regional Airport, a routine day turned into an unspeakable tragedy.

Courtney Edwards, a 34-year-old mother of three, a familiar face among her colleagues at Piedmont Airlines, was fatally injured when she was pulled into the left engine of an American Airlines Embraer E175 while the plane was at the gate. Almost two years later, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the docket with chilling new details about the incident—details that reveal not only the dangers of working around aircraft but also shocking gaps in aviation safety oversight and policies.

A Routine Day, A Catastrophic Moment

Courtney arrived for work that New Year’s Eve morning like any other day. She had been working as a ramp agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. Her job: guide aircraft safely into the gate, place safety cones, and assist with ground operations.

The E175 jet, operated by Envoy Air, had just completed a flight with 63 passengers aboard. Its auxiliary power unit (APU), a small turbine engine that provides electrical power and compressed air while the plane is on the ground, was inoperative. Without the APU, the main engines had to remain running even after landing to supply the necessary power. In other words, the plane was essentially a machine-sized predator, idling at the gate, engines still alive and capable of sucking in anything that came too close.

Ground crews were aware of this. Safety briefings were held, including one ten minutes before the plane arrived. Courtney, standing beside the crew chief, received clear instructions: wait for the engines to shut down, ensure warning beacons were off, and exercise extreme caution. Every ground crew member acknowledged the briefing.

Yet, despite the precautions, tragedy struck.

The Seconds That Changed Everything

Security footage captures what happened in harrowing detail. At 3:39 p.m., Courtney was seen carrying a traffic cone towards the tail of the aircraft. The jet blast from the still-operating number one engine caused her to stumble. She regained her footing and continued walking parallel to the leading edge of the left wing, moving dangerously close to the engine.

In what can only be described as a split-second horror, Courtney’s left leg stepped backward, closer to the spinning engine inlet. Then, in less than a second, both legs were lifted into the engine. Smoke erupted from the rear of the engine, and a large mass fell onto the ramp—Courtney had been sucked into the turbine of a live jet engine. Emergency crews arrived moments later, but it was already too late.

The NTSB report paints a cold, technical picture, but the reality is gut-wrenching. Courtney, a mother, a coworker, a human being, was gone in a heartbeat, her life extinguished by a machine designed for incredible speed and power.

The Plane That Killed Its Own Crew Member

To understand the full gravity, consider the aircraft involved: the Embraer E175. A regional jet designed for efficiency and comfort on short to medium-haul flights, it can carry 70-78 passengers depending on configuration. It has two General Electric CF34-8E engines, each producing 13,420 horsepower—enough to lift a fully loaded aircraft even if one engine fails.

Even at idle, these engines create a vacuum strong enough to suck in objects—and, tragically, humans—from the surrounding area. When one engine was forced to remain running because the APU was inoperative, it transformed a routine airport gate into a dangerous zone where a single misstep could be fatal.

Safety Briefings That Couldn’t Prevent Tragedy

Despite the detailed safety briefings, the tragedy was unavoidable. Courtney was not negligent in the traditional sense; she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, compounded by factors that would never have been apparent in a safety meeting.

The NTSB report revealed something astonishing: Courtney suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic condition affecting the central nervous system. MS can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, and impaired balance—factors that may have influenced her judgment and physical coordination that day.

Toxicology reports also found Delta-9 THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, in her system. While it could not be definitively linked to impairment, the combination of MS and THC created a cognitive risk factor that likely affected her judgment. In the words of the NTSB, her behavior “demonstrated deficient judgment” at the time of the accident.

A Shocking Regulatory Oversight

Perhaps even more shocking than the tragic circumstances is a regulatory gap exposed by this accident. Ramp agents, including Courtney, are not considered “safety-sensitive” employees under the Department of Transportation’s regulations. This means they are not required to undergo routine drug testing. In other words, the very individuals working closest to live jet engines are not considered subject to the same safety scrutiny as pilots or mechanics.

Piedmont Airlines did have its own drug policies, including testing for marijuana, but the NTSB docket shows no record that Courtney had ever been tested. The report leaves a chilling question: could this accident have been prevented if ramp workers were treated as safety-sensitive personnel, subject to mandatory drug screening and medical oversight?

OSHA’s Response: A Fine, But No Real Change

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also investigated the incident. In June 2023, OSHA fined Piedmont for failing to enforce proper training and safety procedures—a slap on the wrist totaling $5,650. Piedmont appealed the fine. For a tragedy of this magnitude, the response feels painfully insufficient.

The Human Side of a Technical Tragedy

Behind the technical details, the human cost is immense. Courtney Edwards left behind three children. Her coworkers were traumatized by witnessing such a horrifying accident. The images and memories of that day are forever etched into the minds of those who were there.

It is easy to become complacent around aircraft. Ground crews perform the same tasks daily, often in extreme weather, under time pressure, and around machines with immense power. Complacency, even for a moment, can have fatal consequences. This incident is a stark reminder of the razor-thin line between routine and catastrophe in aviation.

Lessons From a Horrific Accident

What can the aviation community—and the public—take away from this tragedy? Several critical lessons emerge:

Vigilance Cannot Be Compromised – Even experienced ground crews must remain hyper-aware around running engines. Routine tasks can become deadly when powerful machinery is involved.

Health Matters in High-Risk Jobs – Cognitive or physical impairments, whether from chronic conditions or substances, can have catastrophic consequences in safety-critical environments. MS, THC, and other factors may not be obvious, but they affect judgment, coordination, and awareness.

Regulations Need Reevaluation – The fact that ramp workers are not classified as safety-sensitive employees raises questions about policy gaps in aviation safety. This accident highlights a regulatory blind spot that could impact future safety protocols.

Training and Enforcement Are Non-Negotiable – Even when policies exist, enforcement matters. OSHA’s findings suggest Piedmont Airlines’ training procedures were insufficient, a factor that may have indirectly contributed to the accident.

A Mother’s Legacy and a Call for Change

Courtney’s death is a tragedy that no one should experience, and yet it is also a clarion call to the aviation industry. Her story should inspire stronger regulations, better training, and more rigorous oversight of ground crew operations. Families and coworkers alike deserve assurances that these deadly accidents can be prevented in the future.

For those working around aircraft, the lesson is clear: always respect the machines, follow procedures, and remain vigilant. The tiniest lapse, a split-second distraction, can result in life-altering consequences.

Conclusion: Superior Judgment Trumps Superior Skill

In the end, the NTSB report is more than a technical document; it is a sobering reminder of human vulnerability in the face of mechanical power. Aircraft engines, while marvels of engineering, do not forgive mistakes. They operate with a silent, relentless power that can obliterate in an instant.

Courtney Edwards’ story is a heartbreaking testament to the dangers faced by ground crews every day. It exposes regulatory shortcomings, highlights the importance of cognitive and physical fitness in safety-critical jobs, and underscores the necessity of rigorous training and enforcement.

Her legacy must not be forgotten. Aviation professionals and safety regulators alike must learn from this tragedy to prevent another life from being lost in such an avoidable, horrific way.

As the industry looks toward safer practices and updated policies, the lesson is stark: in aviation, superior judgment trumps superior skill every time. Complacency is deadly. Awareness is life-saving. And respect for the raw, destructive power of aircraft engines is non-negotiable.

Courtney’s life was cut short, but her story may yet save others.