Freak accident: Woman dies after hair gets caught in conveyor belt

The 26-year-old woman worked as a baggage handler at an airport and was on duty at the time of the freak accident

Sep 3, 2022 - 07:23
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Freak accident: Woman dies after hair gets caught in conveyor belt

A 26-year-old woman has lost her life in a tragic freak accident – her hair reportedly got tangled in a conveyor belt at an airport.

According to BET, Jermani Thompson, was a baggage handler at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in the United States (US) and was on duty when the incident occurred on 30 August 2022. Thompson was employed by GAT Airline Ground Support.

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AIRPORT WORKER’S DEATH STILL BEING INVESTIGATED

Explaining the incident, airport officials say Thompson was unloading bags from a Frontier Airlines plane on the tarmac when her hair got caught in a belt loader that evening.

She was rushed to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The horrific accident prompted Frontier Airlines to cancel a flight on Wednesday. How the accident happened is unclear at this point, however, the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office will reportedly be performing an autopsy within the next few days as part of the investigation. 

Johnson’s passing prompted a wave of reaction, including from aviation organisations.

Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, said in a statement to WDSU, “We are deeply saddened about the tragic loss of GAT Airline Ground Support team member, Jermani Thompson. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends, and also to our partners at GAT and Frontier Airlines.”

Dolliole also added, “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.”

Earlier this year, a 21-year-old woman in Belarus also died in a freak accident. The woman, who was pregnant, died from a fatal head injury after her hair got caught in a machine at a factory where she was being interviewed for a job. She was being shown around the factory when her hair got caught in a machine. The hair then wrapped around her neck and she became trapped and covered in blood.