Man dies after being sucked into a plane engine

SAFE Air did not detail how the man died but Fairfax Media said it was informed by sources that the man was sucked into the engine of a C-130 Hercules. The engine had been removed from the aircraft and was installed in the airline's testing bay.

The man had apparently walked into the testing bay while the engine was running, Fairfax reported.

SAFE Air said police and labour department officials were investigating the death.

Itadded that Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe was travelling to Blenheim to offer his condolences to the man's family and colleagues.