26-YO Airport Baggage Handler Dies After Her Hair Gets Caught in Conveyor Belt | ‘This Is Just So Unreal’

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on September 1, 2022. It has since been updated.

A 26-year-old airport worker lost her life after her hair got caught in the machinery at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport in Louisiana. 

The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Jermani Thompson, according to KNOE. The incident took place on August 30, 2022, around 10 pm, on the apron, an area where aircraft are parked, loaded, unloaded, refueled, boarded, and maintained. A spokesperson for GAT Airline Ground Support, where Thompson was employed, said she was working to offload a Frontier Airlines flight that had landed. Her hair got tangled in the belt loader. As a result, the belt dragged her, which caused grave injuries. She was transported to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries. 

Thompson's mother, Angela Dorsey, told NOLA.com that Thompson was a talented athlete who played basketball in high school and college. She passed out from Tyagaloo College with a degree in sociology. "She loved basketball," the grieving mother said. "She was my baby girl. Everybody loved her."

"I'm just lost for words," Dorsey added of her daughter's death. "I can't even think."

Kevin Dolliole, Director of Aviation for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, called Thompson a part of the airport's "family" while issuing a statement on the unfortunate incident. "We are deeply saddened about the tragic loss of GAT Airline Ground Support team member, Jermani Thompson," he said.

"The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport extends its sincere condolences to her family and friends, and also to our partners at GAT and Frontier Airlines," Dolliole added. "Jermani was a part of our Airport family, and we will continue to support one another in any way we can during this trying time."

Mike Hough, GAT's chief executive officer, also revealed that the company was in touch with Thompson's family. "We are heartbroken and are supporting her family and her friends as best as we are able," Hough said. "Please send your well wishes to everyone at our New Orleans station during this very difficult time,” he added.

“We extend our deepest condolences following the tragic death of a team member of our ground handling business partner at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for Frontier Airlines said in a statement.

Frontier Airlines reportedly canceled its Wednesday flight in response to Thompson's death. Meanwhile, Thompson's sister-in-law, Nichole Branch, said that members of the family still have questions about how the whole thing unfolded in the first place. "She went to work one morning and never made it home," Branch said. "This is just so unreal right now."

References:

https://www.knoe.com/2022/08/31/female-baggage-handler-killed-undisclosed-incident-new-orleans-airport/

https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_464756ec-293a-11ed-adec-0379512c0ec9.html

Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Westend61