SALT LAKE CITY - A tragic incident occurred on Monday night at Salt Lake City International Airport, where a man breached airport security and crawled into the engine of a plane. The man, identified as 30-year-old Kyler Efinger, a resident of Park City, lost his life during the ordeal.

According to police reports, Efinger was a ticketed passenger bound for Denver, Colorado. At 9:52 p.m., a store manager inside the airport alerted authorities about a disturbance involving a passenger on the secured side of the terminal. Further investigations revealed that Efinger had gone through an emergency exit door.

As officers and airport employees initiated a search for Efinger, they discovered that he had gained access to the airport's ramp area through the emergency exit. He proceeded to run to the south end of the airport's west runway and crawled into the engine of a plane.

The Salt Lake City Police Department released a timeline of events, stating that within minutes, officers were provided with clothing description updates and information regarding Efinger's location. Shortly thereafter, a pilot reported sighting Efinger, and officers discovered discarded clothing and shoes on one of the airport's runways.

At approximately 10:08 p.m., officials located Efinger unconscious inside the wing-mounted engine of an occupied commercial aircraft on the deicing pad. The aircraft's engines were in operation at the time, and the specific stage of engine operation is currently being investigated.

Upon learning of Efinger's presence underneath the aircraft, officers promptly requested that FAA air controllers notify the pilot to shut down the engines. Life-saving efforts were immediately initiated, including CPR and the administration of naloxone, but tragically, Efinger could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Although the incident did not have a significant impact on airport operations, authorities collaborated with airport staff to deplane passengers and secure the area.

Local and federal officials, including the Salt Lake City Police Department, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and Transportation Security Administration, have launched an investigation into the incident. Safety measures and protocols will be thoroughly examined to ensure the well-being of passengers and airport personnel.

The affected plane was a Delta flight scheduled to travel to San Francisco, with two pilots, three flight attendants, and 95 passengers on board. Following the incident, Delta promptly canceled the flight and rebooked the passengers on alternative flights.

Delta released a statement expressing their commitment to prioritizing the safety and security of their customers and personnel. They emphasized their full cooperation with aviation authorities and law enforcement agencies during the ongoing investigations.

The tragic loss of Kyler Efinger serves as a somber reminder of the importance of maintaining airport security protocols and the need for continuous vigilance to ensure the safety of all individuals within airport premises.