A woman saw an airline worker fatally 'ingested' into a Delta plane's engine. Now she's suing for $1 million.

09.08.2023 - 17:49 / insider.com

A woman is suing Unifi Aviation after she reportedly witnessed one of the company's employees fatally "ingested" into a Delta airplane's engine, according to documents viewed by Insider. 

The suit, filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, says passenger Mackenzie Hill was returning to San Antonio, Texas, from Los Angeles on June 23. Hill was in California "for a church conference and graduation ceremony," having just completed a two-year program for "equipping women for ministry," per the suit.

According to the lawsuit, Hill says she noticed the employee, identified as 27-year-old David Renner, who worked for Unifi and offered ground handling operations support for Delta Air Lines, "coming uncomfortably close" to the plane as it was taxiing to the gate around 10:25 p.m. While seated in window seat 11A near the "captain's side engine," the suit says Hill witnessed Renner getting sucked into the engine.

The airplane's crew instructed passengers to shut their windows and kept them seated for 15 minutes, per the suit. Hill offered to stay behind to give a statement but was told she didn't need to. The suit says flight staff were unaware that investigators were looking for witness statements.

The local medical examiner later ruled Renner's death a suicide, per KBTX.

Renner's estate is also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, though his family members did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Delta, which was not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment for this story when reached via email. Still, a representative for the company directed Insider to a previous statement released in June.

"We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family member's life in San Antonio. Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time." 

Per the suit, Hill has since experienced "nightmares and flashbacks" and has PTSD as a result.

"She's recovering, but she feels permanently damaged," James Wood, Hill's attorney, told Insider. "She feels permanently scarred by what happened."

The lawsuit alleges that Unifi was aware of Renner's mental state and "could have prevented this incident from occurring."

According to the lawsuit, Renner reportedly posted "alarming" messages on social media regarding his mental health in the years leading up to his death. Social media posts included in the lawsuit were from 2018; Wood told Insider they did not find more recent messages. 

The lawsuit also says Renner was arrested last year for criminal trespass on private property. The charge was filed, but prosecutors declined to pursue it.

Per the suit, Hill is alleging "various claims against Unifi and the former