"Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends, and kids for years to come," the fundraiser for her children read.
Friends of an airline employee, who passed away on December 31 after being pulled into the engine of a passenger aircraft, are doing everything they can to gather money for her young children. Mom-of-3 Courtney Edwards was killed by the engine while working at Montgomery Regional Airport in Alabama, according to a prior assessment by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Initially intended to collect $25,000 for Edwards' three children, a GoFundMe effort was on the verge of raising $100,000, per PEOPLE. The campaign read, "Courtney was a Ground Handling agent for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines, a loving mother of 3 kids and a wonderful daughter to her beloved mother."
"Please know that this tragedy has and will affect her mother, family, friends, and kids for years to come," the description continued. Members of the Communication Workers of America union created the GoFundMe page on behalf of the family. The campaign shared, "Our Local would like to ask you to help us raise money for her 3 beautiful kids to help cover funeral expenses, day-to-day expenses, and any other expenses needed to care for the children. All proceeds raised are going directly to her mother, Natalie, for the care of Courtney's kids. We appreciate any support you could offer during this most tragic time."
The ground staff at Montgomery Regional conducted two safety briefings about ten minutes before the jet arrived at the gate, according to a newly released preliminary report submitted by the NTSB on Monday.
As the pilot was starting to shut down the right engine after the plane had touched down at the airport, he got a notification that the front cargo door was being opened. According to the investigation, the first officer of the flight informed a ramp employee that the engines were still operating. Soon after that, tragedy hit the airline worker. Surveillance video obtained in the investigation showed Edwards strolling toward the back of the aircraft while clutching an orange safety cone. She briefly vanished out of view.
A statement from Richard Honeycutt, District 3 vice president of Communication Workers of America, said the incident was "heartbreaking," adding, "Courtney was a valued member of her team and our union. She was away from her family working on New Year's Eve making sure passengers got to where they needed to be for the holidays. She represents the very best of our CWA airport members, who constantly make sacrifices to serve the flying public."
He added that "her memory will live on in the hearts and minds of her fellow CWA members and those closest to her." As the investigation continues, Honeycutt shares that the staff and local leaders of the association are on the ground, coordinating with agencies. He concluded, saying, "We are doing as much as we can to provide support for her family and loved ones during this most tragic time."
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/airline-worker-killed-by-plane-engine-remembered-loving-mom/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/courtney-edwards
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
