In a shocking incident at Salt Lake City International Airport, an unidentified man breached security on New Year's Day and was discovered dead inside the engine of a Delta plane. The distressing series of events unfolded when the manager of an airport store reported an unspecified disturbance just before 10 p.m., alerting airport police.

The situation took a dangerous turn when the intruder managed to bypass security and gain access to the airfield by slipping through an emergency exit door, according to Salt Lake City police. In a span of just 15 minutes after breaching security, the man was found unconscious inside one of the engines of a Delta Airbus A220-100, which was undergoing de-icing procedures before a flight to San Francisco.

The airport authorities revealed that the man had approached the aircraft and crawled into an engine that was not in operation at the time. Quick-thinking first responders pulled him out of the engine intake cowling, the section responsible for directing air to the engine fan, and immediately initiated life-saving measures. Sadly, their efforts were in vain, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of his death remains unknown.

Onboard the flight, Delta Flight 2348, were two pilots, three flight attendants, and 95 passengers, stated the airline. The aircraft promptly returned to the gate, and all the passengers were accommodated on alternate flights.

Delta Airlines expressed their utmost concern for the safety and security of their customers and crew members, assuring full cooperation with aviation authorities and law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigations. The Federal Aviation Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Transportation Security Administration are all involved in probing this alarming security violation and fatality at Salt Lake City International Airport.

As the investigation continues, airport officials emphasized that the engine in which the intruder was found was not operational at the time of the incident. The man's identity has yet to be determined.

This devastating occurrence serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining stringent security measures at airports across the country. Authorities are working tirelessly to uncover the details surrounding this tragic event and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.