NW Fatality at DAY
 

A contracted baggage handler at DAY was killed yesterday afternoon when she got trapped in a baggage elevator trying to get a struck stroller unjammed. The incident happened at B13 jetway. This is the elevator that takes carryons from the top of the jetway to the tarmac level. Having been to DAY many times, I know that they have always had issues with the elevator in question, and prior to the contact folks taking over, the mainline NW folks who used to work here never used that elevator. They would hand carry bags to the RJs. It is unfortunate.

Very sad news to hear. Stuff like this is likely to happen more and more with outsourced ramp workers (unfamiliar or not careful with the equipment they're working with).

I've been in plenty of airports and watched plenty of ground ops, but I'm not sure what a "baggage elevator" is. Since this is DAY and they are talking about RJ's, I'm sure it's not those huge container loading things they use with widebody jets. It's not the baggage loading conveyors, is it?

Just a small elevator at the top of the jetway about the size of the baggage carts used on C concourse at DTW. Lowers bags to the tarmac level.

News coverage
 

As of yesterday, WHIO was reporting the worker was injured:

http://www.whiotv.com/news/13333823/detail.html

According to them, it was a Pinnacle ground staffer; I'm not sure whether that counts the same as being outsourced/contract. And at that point, she was only reported as having been taken to the hospital.

At 0700, the most likely CRJ flight would be 5658 outbound to MSP or *possibly* 2917 in from DTW.

Not anymore.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/13336696/detail.html

:(

Yeah :(

Interesting how there was more information about the time, the airline, etc. in the first piece. Given that the first one is still fresh enough news that there's a link to it in the recent stories at the bottom of the new one, I wonder why they didn't include the details again.

NW called them. (Probably offered a voucher or an amenity pack) ;)

DAY went all contract last fall. They only have Pinnacle and Mesaba flights in and out and the same folks work all flights.

21 years old...what a shame. :(

I, for one, don't think this is funny!!! Consider
it quite inappropriate.::td:

Oh, for Pete's sake, lighten up! It wasn't like anyone was finding humor in the poor woman's death. God forbid you should ever attend a funeral where anyone even attempted to use levity to bring some comfort to the bereaved. Oy! :rolleyes:

I wouldn't assume that the outsourced ramp workers are any less careful with equipment than NW employees. NW is hiring like mad, and the new employees are similarly inexperienced.

As someone with college-aged friends on the ramp, I really find it quite tragic.

I agree, not sure there is any correlation to outsourcing jobs to an increase in accidents. Also, stats 101...... "Correlation does NOT prove causation"

just too sad :(

I agree. I fly out of DAY every week. While I am not happy that the long time NW people are gone, this is so tragic!

I'm sure I know who this is. My sympathies to her family