A Salt Lake City judge has dismissed a lawsuit stemming from the 2024 death of Kyler Efinger, a Park City resident who died after entering an aircraft engine at the Salt Lake City International Airport. The dismissal concludes legal proceedings related to the Jan. 1, 2024, incident in which Efinger was found unconscious inside a wing-mounted engine of a commercial aircraft.
Timeline of the Fatal Incident
The fatal incident occurred on the evening of Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, according to a report from the Salt Lake City Police Department. At approximately 9:52 p.m., a store manager located inside the airport contacted dispatchers through the Airport Control Center to report a disturbance involving a passenger on the secured side of the terminal. Shortly after, Airport Control informed police that the individual had passed through an emergency exit door.
Police officers arrived at the man's last known location approximately one minute after receiving notification of the exit breach. While initial searches were conducted on foot, officers were unable to locate the individual immediately. By 10:06 p.m., police and airport operations staff located personal items, including clothing and shoes, on one of the airport's runways. By 10:08 p.m., dispatchers informed officers that the man was at one of the airport's deicing pads and was located underneath an aircraft, having accessed the engine.
Emergency Response and Discovery
Upon arriving at the deicing pad at 10:08 p.m., Salt Lake City Police Department officers and Airport Operations staff found Efinger unconscious, partially inside a wing-mounted engine of an occupied commercial aircraft. At the time of the discovery, the aircraft's engines were rotating. Police requested that the Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower notify the pilot to shut down the aircraft's engines.
Officers and airport personnel worked to pull the man from the engine's intake cowling and immediately began lifesaving efforts, which included performing CPR and administering naloxone. Despite these efforts, Efinger died at the scene. The Salt Lake City Police Department's Airport Division and the Crime Lab responded to the scene to collect, process, and analyze evidence. The incident did not impact the overall operations of the airport.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The death investigation involved a wide range of agencies, including the Salt Lake City Police Department, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The Salt Lake City Police Department's investigation was focused on determining the nature of the disturbance and the circumstances leading to the breach of the secured terminal area.
While the specific stage of engine operation during the incident was a subject of investigation, the Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed that the man was a ticketed passenger with a boarding pass to Denver, Colorado. The investigation into the cause and manner of death included coordination with the medical examiner's office to review toxicology reports.
Airport Oversight and Governance
The Salt Lake City International Airport is governed by the Salt Lake City Airport Board, which advises the Mayor regarding the operation and management of the airports owned by the Salt Lake City Corporation. The board is comprised of various members, including Chair John Bradshaw, Vice Chair Nathan Rafferty, and several representatives from local government, such as West Jordan Mayor Dirk Burton and Salt Lake City Council Member Victoria Petro.
The airport's leadership and oversight are integrated into the broader municipal structure of Salt Lake City, which is led by Mayor Erin Mendenhall. The Mayor's office oversees various city functions, including the development of the airport and the management of city-wide community initiatives and infrastructure.
Legal and Operational Aftermath
The legal resolution of the lawsuit follows years of investigation into the security and safety protocols at the Salt Lake City International Airport. The incident, which occurred on the secured side of the terminal, highlighted the coordination required between local police, federal aviation authorities, and airport operations during high-stakes emergencies.
As the legal matter concludes, the Salt Lake City International Airport continues to operate under the guidance of the Airport Advisory Board and the Mayor's office, maintaining its role as a primary hub for the region's transportation and commercial connectivity.
