The parents of a man who died after climbing into a jet engine at Salt Lake City International Airport have filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming that police officers and airport staff failed to prevent a tragedy that could have been avoided.
Kyler Efinger, 30, was found unconscious inside the engine of a Delta Airlines aircraft on January 1, 2024.
He later died from severe injuries sustained after entering the plane’s engine while it was preparing for departure.
According to the lawsuit detailed by People, Efinger was experiencing an obvious mental health crisis while waiting for a flight to visit his ill grandfather.
Despite this, he was able to exit the secured terminal through two emergency doors, reach the airport tarmac, and walk nearly a mile to a deicing area where aircraft were operating.
The suit alleges that airport personnel and police failed to respond effectively after reports emerged of a distressed passenger outside on a freezing night. Officers were reportedly directed to incorrect locations multiple times due to poor communication from dispatchers, wasting critical minutes.
The lawsuit also claims pilots were not promptly warned that a man was walking on the tarmac.
An Airbus A220-100 aircraft that had completed deicing was allegedly cleared to proceed to the runway instead of being told to hold position. The pilot later said he shut down the engines only after personally spotting Efinger.
Efinger reportedly climbed into the engine cowling, where his dreadlocked hair became entangled in the moving blades, causing fatal blunt force trauma. His parents argue he could have survived if officers had reached him just 30 seconds earlier, noting that the first seven minutes of the search were ineffective.
Judd and Lisa Efinger, Kyler’s parents, say the incident exposed serious security and safety failures at the airport. They argue that the airport’s design and operations allowed a passenger in distress to access restricted areas, drawing international attention and concern.
According to the family, Efinger had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder about a decade earlier and sometimes became disoriented. On the day of the incident, he suffered a manic episode shortly before boarding.
The lawsuit details unusual behaviour in the airport, including running on moving walkways against passenger flow, leaving and returning for a jersey, and demanding a refund.
An airport shop manager reportedly noticed these signs and alerted security, but the lawsuit claims personnel failed to continue assisting him.
The family alleges that malfunctioning exit doors and poorly monitored surveillance allowed Efinger to access restricted areas. Dispatchers allegedly knew a barefoot man was outside but failed to communicate his location clearly, delaying officers by about eight minutes.
After Efinger was pulled from the engine, the lawsuit claims he was handcuffed before police and fire personnel attempted resuscitation.
The lawsuit seeks accountability and aims to prevent similar incidents in the future. It claims damages exceeding $300,000 but does not specify an exact amount, naming Salt Lake City, which operates the airport, as the defendant. City officials have declined to comment.