How Far Away is Death?
How far away is death? From close calls to tragic accidents, these incidents are equally shocking as insightful.
Tune in every Thursday to see the newest edition, or scroll down to browse previous topics.
Industrial accident
March 12, 2026
A CBS News article described what happened to the ground crew worker, “The National Transportation Safety Board [NTSB] said in a statement that a member of ground support personnel was ‘ingested into the engine’ of an aircraft while it was parked at the gate with the parking brake set.”*
The CBS News article also informs us that, “Montgomery Regional Airport said in a statement that an American Airlines/Piedmont Airlines employee died in an ‘industrial accident’ around 3 p.m..”* An NTSB investigation is now underway.
We learn from an article** published on January 23, 2023, by the Associated Press (AP) and broadcast by MYNBC that, “‘A coworker who saw an Alabama airport employee nearly knocked over by exhaust from a jet tried to warn her to stay back, but moments later the employee walked in front of one of the engines and was pulled in, killing her on Dec. 31,’ federal investigators said Monday.”**
The AP article informs us that “Another ground worker on the other side of the plane had backed away after a pilot leaned out the window and said the engines were still running.
“‘Throughout the incident, rotating beacons on the plane appeared to be illuminated, warning that engines were still running,’ investigators said.
“The National Transportation Safety Board provided new details about the fatal accident involving an American Eagle jet in a preliminary report that relied on video surveillance and witness accounts. The board did not state a probable cause for the incident — that step usually follows an investigation that can take a year or longer.
“The flight from Dallas to Montgomery Regional Airport with 63 passengers and crew was operated by Envoy Air, an affiliate of American Airlines.
“An auxiliary power unit used to power the plane without using the engines was not working, according to the safety board, and pilots decided to leave both engines running for a two-minute engine cool-down period while they waited to for the plane to be connected to ground power.
“The NTSB said the ground crew huddled shortly before the Embraer jet arrived at the gate to note that engines would remain running until the plane was connected to ground power, and the plane shouldn’t be approached until the engines were shut down and pilots turned off the beacon light.
“The board also noted that an American Eagle manual revised in July warns workers never to come within 15 feet of the front of an engine — an area called the ‘ingestion zone’ — until the engine’s blades stop spinning.”
*Content source/credit: CBS News, “Ground crew worker killed after being “ingested” into plane engine at Montgomery, Alabama, airport,” January 3, 2023.
**Content source/credit: Associated Press (AP) via /MYNBC News (15 NBC), “New details provided in deadly accident involving Alabama airport ground worker,” January 23, 2023.
Idiots at work?
March 5, 2025
I gathered these clips from r/IdiotsNearlyDying.
I’ll agree they’re all lucky to be alive, but I don’t believe any of these workers are idiots.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This week’s edition was written by Jacob.
Olympic ski jump close call
February 26, 2026
Olympic US ski jumper, Ben Loomis, was struck by one of the leaf blowers used at the 2026 games in Italy to maintain the Milan Cortina mountain snow surface. Loomis was readying to attempt the big jump when a blower hit him from the side. He later commented that if the blower had hit him in the face it would have been a much different outcome.
Weathering a loss
February 19, 2026
In January, the CBS Boise KBOI chief meteorologist, Roland Steadham, was killed in a small plane crash over Idaho’s Payette River. The plane apparently struck a power line on its way down, according to the Gem County Sheriff’s office. According to KBOI, “Steadham was a meteorologist for 35 years, won multiple awards during his career, and trained countless meteorologists who continue to inform the public across the country.”
The worst buildings
February 12, 2026
Okay, okay, so this is not necessarily about death, but some folks sound mad enough to kill regarding the unattractiveness of these buildings. See what you think about this list of buildings and feel free to respond with a comment.
Heart attack
February 05, 2026
Would you recognize the symptoms if you were experiencing a heart attack? We know that cardiac arrest can occur when we are resting or even sleeping, but knowing some facts beyond “chest pain” can be helpful.
Don’t hesitate to get help if you are experiencing symptoms that are out of the ordinary, something you cannot explain away (from The American Heart Association):
- pain or discomfort in your chest (which can also manifest in your shoulder, arm, jaw, neck, or back)
- shortness of breath
- lightheadedness
- nausea, vomiting
Read this article for more in-depth information.
Collapsed construction elevator
January 29, 2026
t happened at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York: Five workers were injured after a temporary construction elevator fell several floors with the workers aboard. Paramedics and other first responders pulled the injured workers from the elevator and transported them to local hospitals.
A New York Labor Law stipulates that business owners have the responsibility to provide reasonably safe working conditions for onsite workers.
Watch the video:
Too close for comfort
January 22, 2026
Watch the YouTube/CNN video to see what happened in this near-miss plane incident.
What were the two aircraft involved in the near-miss plane incident?
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Looks can’t kill, but people can
January 15, 2026
A recent murder has sparked online discussion about workplace violence and women’s safety.
On a seemingly normal Thursday morning at Advanced Process Technologies, David Delong picked up a sledgehammer and struck his coworker Amber Czech. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Delong admitted his actions to the authorities and is in custody (on a $5 million bail) until his trial in January.
What was the motive for such a heinous act?
Delong told prosecutors she gave him “a bad look”. He had been planning this murder for some time because he “didn’t like” her.
While we can’t predict shocking tragedies like this one, we can still put safeguards in place to prevent them. Proactive measures like tool monitoring systems, self-defense / de-escalation training, risk assessments / reports, and safe spaces can help keep workers safe.
These safeguards might seem like wasted budget during normal day-to-day operations, but here’s the thing: every day feels normal until someone gets hurt.
Queso fresco-type cheeses
January 8, 2026
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that queso fresco-type cheese harbors Listeria due to its high moisture content and low acid level. Also, even pasteurized queso fresco-type cheeses can become contaminated if their manufacturing environments are not sanitary.
